F (musical note)
F is a musical note, the fourth above C. It is also known as fa in fixed-do solfège. It has enharmonic equivalents of E♯ and G
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
| 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
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
E sharp
E♯ (Ger. 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.