Explore chords · Guitar
F 7th chord on guitar (F7)
Also called or written F7, F, F Dominant 7th or F Major Minor 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionF–A–C–E♭F71-0-1-2-1-×
- First inversionA–C–E♭–FF7/A×-0-1-2-1-1
- Second inversionC–E♭–F–AF7/C×-3-1-2-1-1
- Third inversionE♭–F–A–CF7/E♭×-×-1-2-1-1
How do you play an F 7th chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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 | — | — |
AdvancedThe 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.
1st fret
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
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.
Other F chords
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.