F Minor Key Signature

F minor has 4 flats — B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭. Here's the signature on the staff, the full scale, its relative major, and the trick to recognize it instantly.

key signature with 4 flats
Accidentals
4 flats — B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭
Minor scale
F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭
Relative major
A♭ major
Tonic
F

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Reading the F Minor signature

F minor borrows its 4 flats straight from its relative major, A♭ major. Beyond the signature, minor keys typically raise the seventh degree into a leading tone, so expect an extra accidental in the music that the key signature never shows.

The F Minor scale

The F minor scale runs F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭. Every flattened note in the piece takes the key's accidentals automatically, which is exactly what the signature saves you from writing note by note.

F Minor and its relative major

F minor shares its signature — 4 flats — with its relative major, A♭ major, a minor third above the tonic. They use the same seven pitches; what tells them apart is which note the music settles on and treats as home.

Neighboring keys on the circle of fifths

F Minor — frequently asked

How many sharps or flats does F minor have?

F minor has 4 flats — B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭.

What is the relative major of F minor?

The relative major of F minor is A♭ major — it shares the identical key signature (4 flats).

What notes are in the F minor scale?

The F minor scale is F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭.

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