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F 7th sharp 5 chord on bass (F7♯5)
Also called or written F7♯5, F or F Dominant 7th ♯5
F 7th sharp 5 contains F, A, C♯, and E♭. The default voicing at the 9th fret requires a wide four-finger stretch.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7
- Root positionF–A–C♯–E♭F7♯5no shape on this instrument
- First inversionA–C♯–E♭–FF7♯5/Ano shape on this instrument
- Second inversionC♯–E♭–F–AF7♯5/C♯9-8-7-8
- Third inversionE♭–F–A–C♯F7♯5/E♭11-12-11-10
How do you play an F 7th sharp 5 chord on bass?
F 7th sharp 5 is played at the 7th fret as 9 8 7 8: pinky finger on the E string at fret 9, middle finger on the A string at fret 8, index finger on the D string at fret 7 and ring finger on the G string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 4 | C♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 2 | F (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (3) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 3 | E♭ (♭7) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 9th fret on the E string while the index holds the 7th fret on the D string.
F7♯5/E♭ inversion
F 7th sharp 5 is played at the 10th fret as 11 12 11 10: middle finger on the E string at fret 11, pinky finger on the A string at fret 12, ring finger on the D string at fret 11 and index finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (3) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 3 | C♯ (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F 7th sharp 5 is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7. The augmented 5th, C♯, gives the chord its sharp, biting quality. Compare it to F 7th, which uses a perfect 5th.
What goes wrong with F 7th sharp 5?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the A string.
- Pressing the index finger too flat and buzzing the D string.
- Striking the open E string instead of the 9th fret.
When to use it
F 7th sharp 5 suits rock, blues, and jazz lines that need a raised 5th. It pairs well with F major and F 7th.
Changing to and from F 7th sharp 5
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 7th fret gives E♭ 7th sharp 5. Keep the finger spacing identical while shifting.
- Move to F 7th by lowering the D string from the 7th fret to the 6th fret; the other fingers stay in place.
Which voicing to use
The C♯ inversion puts the augmented 5th in the bass, creating a tense, unstable sound. The E♭ inversion has the ♭7 in the bass and is higher on the neck. Choose the C♯ inversion for a more dissonant line.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F 7th sharp 5 written?
F 7th sharp 5 is written as F7♯5 or F7+5. The symbol F7♯5 is the most common.
What is the difference between F 7th sharp 5 and F augmented?
F 7th sharp 5 adds a minor 7th, E♭, to the augmented triad F–A–C♯. F augmented has only the root, major 3rd, and augmented 5th. The 7th makes the chord dominant and more dissonant.
Can F 7th sharp 5 be used as a passing chord?
F 7th sharp 5 works as a passing chord between F 7th and F 9th. Its raised 5th creates tension that resolves to the next chord. Use it briefly on a weak beat.