The F major triad, more commonly called the F major chord or simply the F chord for short, consists of the notes F, A and C. Here it is on the bass clef staff:
Here is the above chord on the piano:
As a major triad, the F chord consists of a major third plus a minor third. The interval from F to A is a major third, while the interval between A and C is a minor third.
Inversions of the F Chord
If the root of the F chord – F – is the bass note (i.e., the bottom note), then the chord is in root position:
If the third of the chord – A – is the bottom note, then the chord is in first inversion:
If the fifth of the chord – C – is the bass note, then the chord is in second inversion. (C is called the fifth of the chord because the interval from the root F to C is a fifth.)
F Major Arpeggios
If the notes of a chord are played one after the other, the chord is said to be arpeggiated. Here are the standard fingerings for arpeggios of the F chord. Make sure you learn these fingerings!
(If you don’t understand the below notation, you should start with my How to Read Sheet Music course.)
F major arpeggio in root position:
F major arpeggio in first inversion:
F major arpeggio in second inversion:
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