F major chordson the mandolin

Common progressions

• I – IV – I – V: F – B♭ – F – C (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
• I – V – I: F – C – F (polkas and simple tunes)
• I – vi – IV – V: F – Dm – B♭ – C (a B part that wanders, or a song)

Basis: DADGAD Guitar blog (2009), the Chiff & Fipple forum, and common session practice: most major-key tunes use I, IV and V; vi now and then.

The seven chords in F major

1. I F2 3 3 1
2. ii Gm0 0 1 3
3. iii Am2 2 3 0
4. IV B♭3 0 1 1
5. V C0 2 3 0
6. vi Dm2 0 0 1
7. vii° Edim0 2 1 0

Other modes on F

Other major keys

F major in other tunings

All Mandolin GDAE chords · Printable chart (PDF) · The app