F (musical note)

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 has enharmonic equivalents of E♯ (E-sharp)[2] and G (G-double flat),[3] amongst others.

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

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

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

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

E♯ (German: Eis)[4] 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)
Griffiths (2004, p. 399)

Bibliography

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.