Also written F♯7, F♯ or F♯ Dominant 7th
F♯ 7th is built from F♯, A♯, C♯, and E. The 2nd-fret shape stretches the pinky to fret 4 on the A string, making clean fretting the main challenge.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
F♯ 7th uses the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th interval between F♯ and E gives the chord its dominant quality, and the diminished 5th between A♯ and E adds tension. Compare it with F♯ major, which omits the ♭7.
F♯ 7th is the V chord in B major, so it appears in progressions like B–E–F♯–B (I–IV–V–I). Its dominant pull suits blues, rock, and funk bass lines that resolve to B.
The 2nd-fret shape has F♯ in the bass and is the most direct voicing. The F♯7/C♯ inversion at the 9th fret puts C♯ in the bass for a smoother transition from B major, while the F♯7/E inversion at the 12th fret leads into B major by step.
F♯ 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 2 3: index finger on the E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the A string at fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and ring finger on the G string at fret 3.
Tip — The pinky must reach from the 2nd fret to the 4th fret on the A string while the other fingers hold their frets cleanly.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
F♯ 7th is played at the 8th fret as 9 9 8 9: middle finger on the E string at fret 9, ring finger on the A string at fret 9, index finger on the D string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 | A♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (♭7) |
F♯ 7th is played at the 11th fret as 12 13 11 11: barre your index finger across fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 12 and ring finger on the A string at fret 13.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 2 | E (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
F♯ 7th is written as F♯7, or F#7 in ASCII. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
F♯ 7th adds an E note, the minor 7th, to the F♯ major triad. That E creates a tritone with A♯, giving F♯ 7th its dominant tension.
F♯ 7th is built on the fifth degree of B major, where it functions as the dominant. The name comes from that dominant function, not from the chord's internal intervals.