Tools / Chords / F 7th

F 7th chord on guitar (F7)

Also written F7, F or F Dominant 7th

F 7th contains F, A, C, and E♭. The open shape uses five strings with the root on the low E string, and the high E string is muted.

Open1-0-1-2-1-×

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

F1Root

A3Major 3rd

C5Perfect 5th

E♭♭7Minor 7th

Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionF–A–C–E♭F7Bass F

First inversionA–C–E♭–FF7/ABass A

Second inversionC–E♭–F–AF7/CBass C

Third inversionE♭–F–A–CF7/E♭Bass E♭

Why it sounds like that

F 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7, adding a minor seventh to the F major triad. The ♭7 creates the dominant pull that defines the chord. Compare it with F major, which lacks that seventh.

What goes wrong with F 7th?

Letting the high E string ring, which adds a non-chord tone.
Touching the open A string with the fretting hand, muting it.
Placing the pinky too far behind the fret, causing a buzz on the G string.

When to use it

F 7th is the V chord in B♭ major, appearing in progressions like B♭–E♭–F–B♭ (I–IV–V–I). It suits blues, rock, and jazz. Resolve it to B♭ major.

Changing to and from F 7th

Slide the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret to play F♯ 7th.
Move to B♭ major by lifting the pinky and placing the index on the D string, 3rd fret, while keeping the other fingers.

Which voicing to use

The open position is the default and keeps the root on the low E string. The 1st fret barre shape adds the high E string for a fuller sound. The 3rd fret shape is a compact four-string voicing for higher-register comping.

How do you play an F 7th chord on guitar?

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

F 7th is played in open position as 1 0 1 2 1 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 1, pinky finger on the G string at fret 2 and ring finger on the B string at fret 1. The A string rings open. The high e string stays muted.

Tip — The open shape requires a wide stretch from the index on the 1st fret to the pinky on the 2nd fret while muting the high E string.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	1	1	F (1)
5 (A)	open	—	A (3)
4 (D)	1	2	E♭ (♭7)
3 (G)	2	4	A (3)
2 (B)	1	3	C (5)
1 (e)	muted	—	—

1st fret

Barre

F 7th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 2 1 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3 and ring finger on the G string at fret 2.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	1	1 (barre)	F (1)
5 (A)	3	4	C (5)
4 (D)	1	1 (barre)	E♭ (♭7)
3 (G)	2	3	A (3)
2 (B)	1	1 (barre)	C (5)
1 (e)	1	1 (barre)	F (1)

3rd fret

Intermediate

F 7th is played at the 3rd fret as × × 3 5 4 5: index finger on the D string at fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 5, middle finger on the B string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 5. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	3	1	F (1)
3 (G)	5	3	C (5)
2 (B)	4	2	E♭ (♭7)
1 (e)	5	4	A (3)

8th fret

Barre

F 7th is played at the 8th fret as × 8 10 8 10 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, ring finger on the D string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 10. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	8	1 (barre)	F (1)
4 (D)	10	3	C (5)
3 (G)	8	1 (barre)	E♭ (♭7)
2 (B)	10	4	A (3)
1 (e)	8	1 (barre)	C (5)

13th fret

Barre

F 7th is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 13 14 13 13: barre your index finger across fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 15 and ring finger on the G string at fret 14.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	13	1 (barre)	F (1)
5 (A)	15	4	C (5)
4 (D)	13	1 (barre)	E♭ (♭7)
3 (G)	14	3	A (3)
2 (B)	13	1 (barre)	C (5)
1 (e)	13	1 (barre)	F (1)

Common questions

Why is the high E string muted in F 7th?

The open E is not a chord tone of F 7th, so it would add an outside note. Muting it keeps the voicing clean.

How does F 7th differ from F major?

F 7th adds an E♭ note, the minor seventh, to the F major triad. That note gives the chord its dominant tension.

Can I play F 7th as a barre chord?

Yes, the 1st fret barre shape is a moveable voicing with the root on the low E string. It is useful for higher positions.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F (1)

5 (A)

open

—

A (3)

4 (D)

E♭ (♭7)

3 (G)

A (3)

2 (B)

C (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

F (1)

5 (A)

C (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E♭ (♭7)

3 (G)

A (3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

F (1)

3 (G)

C (5)

2 (B)

E♭ (♭7)

1 (e)

A (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

F (1)

4 (D)

C (5)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

E♭ (♭7)

2 (B)

A (3)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

C (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

F (1)

5 (A)

C (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E♭ (♭7)

3 (G)

A (3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F (1)