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F 7th chord on bass (F7)
Also called or written F7, F, F Dominant 7th or F Major Minor 7th
F 7th is built from F, A, C, and E♭. This advanced shape stretches the pinky to the 3rd fret on the A string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionF–A–C–E♭F71-3-1-2
- First inversionA–C–E♭–FF7/Ano shape on this instrument
- Second inversionC–E♭–F–AF7/C8-8-7-8
- Third inversionE♭–F–A–CF7/E♭11-12-10-10
How do you play an F 7th chord on bass?
F 7th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 2: index finger on the E string at fret 1, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 1 and ring finger on the G string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 3rd fret on the A string while the index and middle fingers hold the 1st fret.
13th fret
F 7th is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 13 14: index finger on the E string at fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 15, middle finger on the D string at fret 13 and ring finger on the G string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 4 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 14 | 3 | A (3) |
F7/C inversion
F 7th is played at the 7th fret as 8 8 7 8: middle finger on the E string at fret 8, ring finger on the A string at fret 8, index finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (5) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (3) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 4 | E♭ (♭7) |
F7/E♭ inversion
F 7th is played at the 10th fret as 11 12 10 10: ring finger on the E string at fret 11, pinky finger on the A string at fret 12, index finger on the D string at fret 10 and middle finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11 | 3 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (3) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 1 | C (5) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 2 | F (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F 7th stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th over the root F. The minor 7th E♭ creates the dominant pull toward B♭ major. Compare with F major, which omits the 7th.
What goes wrong with F 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and buzz the A string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the D string and deaden the A.
When to use it
F 7th functions as the V chord in B♭ major, resolving to B♭ major in progressions like B♭–E♭–F–B♭ (I–IV–V–I). Use it in blues, rock, and funk bass lines for a strong dominant sound.
Changing to and from F 7th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ 7th.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives G 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 1st fret position keeps F in the bass for a root-position sound. The F7/C inversion at the 8th fret puts C in the bass, useful for stepwise bass movement.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F 7th written?
F 7th is written as F or F7. The symbol F7 is more common in chord charts.
What is the difference between F 7th and F major?
F 7th adds a minor 7th, E♭, to the F major triad. This gives the chord its dominant, tension-filled quality.
Why does F 7th resolve to B♭ major?
The tritone between A and E♭ creates a strong pull toward the B♭ major chord. This resolution is fundamental in tonal harmony.