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F major 7th chord on guitar (Fmaj7)
Also called or written Fmaj7 or FM7
F major 7th contains F, A, C, and E. The open position requires a wide stretch and precise finger placement.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
- Root positionF–A–C–EFmaj71-0-2-2-1-0
- First inversionA–C–E–FFmaj7/A×-0-2-2-1-1
- Second inversionC–E–F–AFmaj7/C×-3-2-2-1-1
- Third inversionE–F–A–CFmaj7/E0-0-2-2-1-1
How do you play an F major 7th chord on guitar?
F major 7th is played in open position as 1 0 2 2 1 0: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the D string at fret 2, pinky finger on the G string at fret 2 and middle finger on the B string at fret 1. The A and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 3 | E (7) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 4 | A (3) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (7) |
AdvancedThe open position requires a wide stretch between the index and pinky while keeping the high e string open.
1st fret
F major 7th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 2 2 1 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 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) | 2 | 2 | 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 major 7th is played at the 3rd fret as × × 3 5 5 5: index finger on the D string at fret 3, middle finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the B string at fret 5 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 | 2 | C (5) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 3 | E (7) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 4 | A (3) |
8th fret
F major 7th is played at the 8th fret as × 8 10 9 10 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, ring finger on the D string at fret 10, middle finger on the G string at fret 9 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) | 9 | 2 | E (7) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 4 | A (3) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
13th fret
F major 7th is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 14 14 13 13: barre your index finger across fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 15, middle finger on the D string at fret 14 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) | 14 | 2 | 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 major 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 7. The major 7th interval from F to E gives the chord its warm, romantic quality. Compare it to F major, which omits the E.
What goes wrong with F major 7th?
- The pinky fails to press the G string cleanly, causing a buzz.
- The ring finger touches the B string, deadening it.
- The index finger collapses onto the A string, muting the open note.
When to use it
F major 7th is the tonic in F major. Use it in progressions like F–B♭–C–F, the I–IV–V–I, or F–C–Dm–B♭, the I–V–vi–IV. It suits folk, soft rock, and ballads.
Changing to and from F major 7th
- From F major 7th to F♯ major 7th: slide the whole shape up one fret, keeping the same finger pattern.
- From F major 7th to G major 7th: slide the whole shape up two frets, keeping the same finger pattern.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the most common, but the 1st fret barre gives a warmer tone with the root on the low E string. The 3rd fret shape is a compact voicing without the low strings. The 8th fret barre offers a higher register with the root on the A string.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F major 7th written?
F major 7th is written as FM7 or Fmaj7. No enharmonic spelling is needed.
What is the difference between F major 7th and F dominant 7th?
Its verified note order explains the sound without relying on outside harmony. The major 7th sounds more resolved and less bluesy.
Why does the open F major 7th shape include the low E string?
The low E string is fretted at the 1st fret to play the root note F. This gives the chord a full, rich bass.
Can F major 7th be played as a barre chord?
Yes, the 1st fret position is a barre chord with the root on the low E string. It is movable and useful for higher voicings.