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F♯ major 7th chord on bass (F♯maj7)
Also called or written F♯maj7 or F♯M7
F♯ major 7th contains F♯, A♯, C♯, and E♯. The 2nd-fret shape demands a wide pinky stretch across four frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
- Root positionF♯–A♯–C♯–E♯F♯maj72-4-3-3
- First inversionA♯–C♯–E♯–F♯F♯maj7/A♯no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionC♯–E♯–F♯–A♯F♯maj7/C♯9-9-8-10
- Third inversionE♯–F♯–A♯–C♯F♯maj7/E♯13-13-11-11
How do you play an F♯ major 7th chord on bass?
F♯ major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 3 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 3 and ring finger on the G string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 2 | E♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 4th fret on the 3rd string while the index stays at the 2nd fret, stretching the hand.
F♯maj7/C♯ inversion
F♯ major 7th is played at the 8th fret as 9 9 8 10: 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 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 | A♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 4 | E♯ (7) |
F♯maj7/E♯ inversion
F♯ major 7th is played at the 11th fret as 13 13 11 11: ring finger on the E string at fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 13, index finger on the D string at fret 11 and middle finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 3 | E♯ (7) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ major 7th is built from the 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the F♯ major scale. The major 7th interval from F♯ to E♯ gives the chord its bright, resolved quality. Compare it to F♯ major, which omits the E♯ and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with F♯ major 7th?
- Letting the pinky mute the 2nd string by lying flat.
- Allowing the index finger to roll off the 4th string.
- Plucking the 1st string too hard and making the E♯ ring out harshly.
When to use it
F♯ major 7th is the I chord in F♯ major, as in F♯–B–C♯–F♯, the I–IV–V–I. It works for jazz fusion, progressive rock, and atmospheric pop. Use it over F♯ major or F♯ 5th.
Changing to and from F♯ major 7th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives G major 7th.
- From F♯ major 7th, move the pinky from the 3rd string 4th fret to the 2nd string 3rd fret to play F♯ major.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd-fret shape places F♯ in the bass for a strong root position. The F♯maj7/D♭ inversion at the 9th fret has C♯ in the bass, giving a lighter feel. The F♯maj7/F inversion at the 13th fret puts the leading tone E♯ in the bass, creating tension that resolves to F♯.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ major 7th written?
F♯ major 7th is written F♯M7 or F♯maj7. The ASCII root spelling is F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the hardest part of F♯ major 7th?
The hardest part is stretching the pinky to the 4th fret while keeping the index on the 2nd fret. Practice the stretch slowly to build flexibility.
How does F♯ major 7th differ from F♯ major?
F♯ major 7th adds the E♯, the major 7th, to the F♯ major triad. That note creates a more sophisticated, jazzy sound.
Can F♯ major 7th be played in a lower register?
Yes, the F♯maj7/D♭ inversion at the 9th fret sits lower on the neck. It sounds warmer and is easier to reach.