F (musical note)

F is a musical note, the fourth above C or fifth below C. It is the fourth note and the sixth semitone of the solfège. It is also known as fa in fixed-do solfège.^[1] It is enharmonic equivalent with E♯ (E-sharp)^[2] and G (G-double flat),^[3] amongst others.

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of Middle F (F4) is approximately 349.228 Hz.^[4] See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

Designation by octave

Scientific designation	Helmholtz designation	Octave name	Frequency (Hz)
F−1	F͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵F or FFFF	Octocontra	10.913
F0	F͵͵ or ͵͵F or FFF	Subcontra	21.827
F1	F͵ or ͵F or FF	Contra	43.654
F2	F	Great	87.307
F3	f	Small	174.614
F4	f′	One-lined	349.228
F5	f′′	Two-lined	698.456
F6	f′′′	Three-lined	1396.913
F7	f′′′′	Four-lined	2793.826
F8	f′′′′′	Five-lined	5587.652
F9	f′′′′′′	Six-lined	11175.303
F10	f′′′′′′′	Seven-lined	22350.607

Scales

Common scales beginning on F

• F major: F G A B♭ C D E F
• F natural minor: F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F
• F harmonic minor: F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E F
• F melodic minor ascending: F G A♭ B♭ C D E F
• F melodic minor descending: F E♭ D♭ C B♭ A♭ G F

Diatonic scales

• F Ionian: F G A B♭ C D E F
• F Dorian: F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F
• F Phrygian: F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F
• F Lydian: F G A B C D E F
• F Mixolydian: F G A B♭ C D E♭ F
• F Aeolian: F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F
• F Locrian: F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F

Jazz melodic minor

• F ascending melodic minor: F G A♭ B♭ C D E F
• F Dorian ♭2: F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F
• F Lydian augmented: F G A B C♯ D E F
• F Lydian dominant: F G A B C D E♭ F
• F Mixolydian ♭6: F G A B♭ C D♭ E♭ F
• F Locrian ♮2: F G A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F
• F altered: F G♭ A♭ B C♭ D♭ E♭ F

E-sharp

E♯ (German: Eis)^[5] is a common enharmonic equivalent of F, but is not regarded as the same note. E♯ is commonly found before F♯ in the same measure in pieces where F♯ is in the key signature, in order to represent a diatonic, rather than a chromatic semitone; writing an F♮ with a following F♯ is regarded as a chromatic alteration of one scale degree. Though E♯ and F♮ sound the same in any 12-tone temperament, other tunings may define them as distinct pitches.

References

1. Demorest (2001, p. 46)
2. Griffiths (2004, p. 617)
3. Zundel (1848, p. 24)
4. Suits, B. H. (1998). "Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament". MTU.edu. Michigan Technological University. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
5. Griffiths (2004, p. 399)

Sources

• Demorest, Steven M. (2001). Building Choral Excellence: Teaching Sight-Singing in the Choral Rehearsal. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-512462-0.
• Griffiths, Paul (7 October 2004). The Penguin Companion to Classical Music. Penguin UK. ISBN 9780141909769.
• Zundel, John (1848). The Complete Melodeon Instructor, in Seven Parts: Designed as a Thorough Instruction Book for the Melodeon, Seraphine, Eolican, Melopean, Organ, Or Any Similar Instrument. O. Ditson.

See also

• Piano key frequencies
• F major
• F minor
• Root (chord)