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Bass chord companion

F Major Chord

Learn the F Major chord on bass with chord tones, intervals, playable arpeggios, and fretboard maps.

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1F3A5C

Bass chord tones and arpeggios

Play these tones one at a time to outline the chord. The maps show the complete formula; the numbered exercises give an ascending path, including extensions in their written octave.

Standard four-string bass: E1 – A1 – D2 – G2. String 4 is low E; string 1 is high G. Fingers 1–4 are index through little finger; 0 is open. Use comfortable hand positions and shift where indicated.

Root on E string

F Major complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 1. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

F Major Root on E string bass chord-tone mapF Major complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 1. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG0123413513

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

F Major Root on E string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: F1, A1, C2. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG0123123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11F14 / 11Fret 1
23A13 / 0OpenFret 1
35C23 / 33Fret 1

Root on A string

F Major complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 8. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

F Major Root on A string bass chord-tone mapF Major complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 8. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG789101151351

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

F Major Root on A string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: F2, A2, C3. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG78910123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11F23 / 82Fret 7
23A22 / 71Fret 7
35C32 / 104Fret 7

Full fretboard map

Every F Major Chord chord tone across the neck, with roots highlighted for quick orientation.

Interactive

Frets 0–24. Select a position or tap a note to hear it.

GDAEFACFACCFACFAFACFACACFACF123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Progression examples using F Major

Try these progressions to hear the harmony in context. On bass, outline each chord with individual target tones.

Chord Tones

DegreeIntervalNote
1RootF
3M3A
5P5C

Complete Formula

1 – 3 – 5

Compound degrees retain their names: 9, 11, and 13 are extensions. A voicing may place their pitches in a closer register.

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