F (musical note)

${ \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 } << \time 2/1 \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f { \clef bass f1_F \clef treble f' } >> }$

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. It is enharmonic equivalent with E♯ (E-sharp) and G(G-double flat), 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. See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

Designation by octave

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♭ BC♭ D♭ E♭ F

E-sharp

${ \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 } << \time 2/1 \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f { \clef bass eis1_E-sharp \clef treble eis'} >> }$

E♯ (German: Eis) 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

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.