Explore chords · Ukulele
F 7th chord on ukulele (F7)
Also called or written F7, F, F Dominant 7th or F Major Minor 7th
F 7th contains F, A, C, and E♭. The 10th fret shape demands a wide stretch across four frets, making it a challenging grip.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionF–A–C–E♭F75-5-5-6
- First inversionA–C–E♭–FF7/A8-9-8-8
- Second inversionC–E♭–F–AF7/C10-12-11-12
- Third inversionE♭–F–A–CF7/E♭2-3-1-3
How do you play an F 7th chord on ukulele?
F 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 11 12: index finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, middle finger on the E string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (3) |
AdvancedThe 10th fret shape requires a wide stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string, spanning four frets.
F7/E♭ inversion
F 7th is played at the 1st fret as 2 3 1 3: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (5) |
5th fret
F 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 5 5 6: barre your index finger across fret 5 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (3) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (♭7) |
F7/A inversion
F 7th is played at the 8th fret as 8 9 8 8: index finger on the G string at fret 8, pinky finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 4 | A (3) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (5) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7 on the root F. The ♭7, E♭, gives the chord its dominant pull. Compare it with F major, which lacks the ♭7.
What goes wrong with F 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and deaden the 1st string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 2nd string, muffling the C.
- Pressing the index too flat so the 4th string buzzes.
When to use it
F 7th is the V chord in B♭ major, resolving to B♭ major in the I–IV–V–I progression B♭–E♭–F–B♭. It also appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression B♭–F–Gm–E♭. Use F 7th for blues, jazz, and rock progressions.
Changing to and from F 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 9th fret gives E 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 10th fret shape has F in the bass and is the root position. The F7/E♭ inversion at the 8th fret puts E♭ in the bass and is easier to reach. The F7/C inversion at the 5th fret has C in the bass and uses a barre.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F 7th written?
F 7th is written as F7. The symbols F and F7 both refer to this chord. It is also called Dominant 7th or Major Minor 7th.
What is the difference between F 7th and F major?
F major contains F, A, and C. F 7th adds the ♭7, E♭, which creates tension that resolves to B♭ major.
Can I play F 7th with open strings?
No, F 7th has no open-string voicing. The easiest shape is the F7/E♭ inversion at the 8th fret.