F (musical note)

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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

^ Demorest (2001, p. 46)
^ Griffiths (2004, p. 617)
^ Zundel (1848, p. 24)
^ 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.
^ 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.