F Major Scale (F Ionian) on the Guitar – 5 CAGED Positions, Tabs and Theory

The F Major scale is an important scale on the guitar. It contains one flat (Bb), making it a relatively easy scale to understand and use, for the purposes of musical theory. The first fret of the 6th string is an F note, which also makes F scales on the guitar quite popular.

The notes in an F Major scale are as follows

F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E

If you are interested in learning about modes and guitar scales, it should be pointed out that the F Major scale is effectively the same scale as the F ionian scale. For the purpose of the series of lessons on guitar modes, we are going to treat F ionian and F Major as an identical scale.

If you are unsure of what a Major scale or ionian mode is, click on the link to the lessons.

Let’s look at the 5 CAGED positions for the F Major scale, as well as the open position.

F Major Scale In The Open Position

Let’s look at the F Major scale in the open position (notes and tabs).

F Major Scale Open Position Frets
F Major Scale Open Position Notes

F Major Scale CAGED Positions

Here are the 5 CAGED positions for the F Major scale on the guitar (notes and tabs).

F Major Scale in the 1st Position (lowest fret is 1)

F Major Scale 1st Position Frets
F Major Scale 1st Position Notes

F Major Scale in the 5th Position (lowest fret is 5)

F Major Scale 5th Position Frets
F Major Scale 5th Position Notes

F Major Scale in the 6th Position (lowest fret is 6)

F Major Scale 6th Position Frets
F Major Scale 6th Position Notes

F Major Scale in the 9th Position (lowest fret is 9)

F Major Scale 9th Position Frets
F Major Scale 9th Position Notes

F Major Scale in the 12th Position (lowest fret is 12)

F Major Scale 12th Position Frets
F Major Scale 12th Position Notes

So there you have all the positions on the guitar fretboard for playing the F Major scale.

How to Use the F Major Scale

For the purpose of improvising, the F Major scale can be used over the F Major chord, the F Major 7 chord, as well as other chords within the key of F Major.

Chords in the Key of F Major

The key of F Major contains the following chords (triads and 7th chords):

Modes Of The F Major Scale

There are 7 modes in the key of F. We can produce these modes by playing the notes of the F Major scale, while starting on different notes of the scale. For example, to play the G dorian mode, we start on the note G and then play the notes of the F Major scale. To play the D Aeolian mode, we start on D and play through the notes of the F Major scale.

Here are the 7 modes in the key of F Major:

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