The Key of F — Dobro

F major harmonises to F – Gm – Am – A# – C – Dm – E°; F minor to Fm – G° – G# – A#m – Cm – C# – D#. A caller does not say any of that. They say the key and then hold up fingers, and the whole circle is expected to translate.

F is not one of the four keys a bluegrass circle usually calls, so when it comes up it is because a singer needed it — and somebody in the band is capoing to make their shapes fit.

Learn 1–4–5 in F until your hand goes there without asking, then 1–6m–4–5 and the 2–5 that walks into a tag, and most of the repertoire is already playable in this key.