F Major Chord Progressions for Piano

F Major functions as the tonic — the harmonic "home" — in the key of F Major. Every progression below resolves back to F because it is the point of rest your ear expects after the tension of the dominant (C) or subdominant (Bb). This page covers I – IV – V – I, I – V – vi – IV, vi – IV – I – V, and more, with every chord linked to its own page.

F Major in Context

F Major also plays a role beyond its own key: it is the dominant (V) chord in the key of Bb Major, and the subdominant (IV) chord in the key of C Major. Its relative minor is D Minor, which shares the same key signature and often substitutes for F in progressions like vi–IV–I–V.

The F Major scale is F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E.

Common F Major Progressions

I – IV – V – I

Beginner-friendly

A classic cadence that moves from tonic to subdominant to dominant and back home. It is one of the strongest harmonic patterns in Western music.

I · TonicF MajorF – A – C IV · SubdominantBb MajorBb – D – F V · DominantC MajorC – E – G I · TonicF MajorF – A – C

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I – V – vi – IV

Beginner-friendly

One of the most common progressions in popular music. It combines tonic stability, dominant movement, relative minor emotion, and subdominant resolution.

I · TonicF MajorF – A – C V · DominantC MajorC – E – G vi · SubmediantD MinorD – F – A IV · SubdominantBb MajorBb – D – F

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vi – IV – I – V

Beginner-friendly

Often called the “axis” progression. Starting on the relative minor gives the line a more emotional, introspective feel before resolving toward the dominant.

vi · SubmediantD MinorD – F – A IV · SubdominantBb MajorBb – D – F I · TonicF MajorF – A – C V · DominantC MajorC – E – G

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ii – V – I

Next step

A foundational progression in jazz and many other styles. It creates strong movement back to the tonic chord through the supertonic and dominant.

ii · SupertonicG MinorG – Bb – D V · DominantC MajorC – E – G I · TonicF MajorF – A – C

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I – vi – IV – V

Beginner-friendly

A timeless “50s” progression that balances major-key brightness with the warmth of the relative minor before moving through subdominant and dominant.

I · TonicF MajorF – A – C vi · SubmediantD MinorD – F – A IV · SubdominantBb MajorBb – D – F V · DominantC MajorC – E – G

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I – IV – vi – V

Beginner-friendly

A gentle pop progression that keeps the harmony diatonic while highlighting the contrast between major and relative minor chords.

I · TonicF MajorF – A – C IV · SubdominantBb MajorBb – D – F vi · SubmediantD MinorD – F – A V · DominantC MajorC – E – G

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12-Bar Blues

Next step

The backbone of blues, rock, and jazz. Twelve measures built from tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords create a repeating form you can solo over for hours.

Full 12-bar sequence: I – I – I – I – IV – IV – I – I – V – IV – I – V

I · TonicF MajorF – A – C IV · SubdominantBb MajorBb – D – F V · DominantC MajorC – E – G

This triad form matches what Practice Mode and the Progression Trainer drill. Traditional 12-bar blues almost always plays all three chords as dominant sevenths instead of plain triads: F7, Bb7, C7.

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Continue learning

Practice F Major progressions

Drill these changes with a metronome and randomized prompts, or open the Progression Trainer for a guided run-through in F Major.