Explore chords · Ukulele
F♯ 7th flat 5 chord on ukulele (F♯7♭5)
Also called or written F♯7♭5, F♯, F♯ Dominant 7th Flat 5 or F♯ 7th ♭5
F♯ 7th flat 5 contains F♯, A♯, C, and E. The default inversion puts A♯ in the bass, giving a slightly brighter edge to this advanced chord.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♭5, ♭7
How do you play an F♯ 7th flat 5 chord on ukulele?
F♯ 7th flat 5 is played at the 2nd fret as 3 4 2 3: middle finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 4, index finger on the E string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 2 | A♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 4 | E (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (♭5) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach to fret 4 on the C string while the index holds fret 2 on the E string.
5th fret
F♯ 7th flat 5 is played at the 5th fret as 5 6 6 7: index finger on the G string at fret 5, middle finger on the C string at fret 6, ring finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 4 | E (♭7) |
F♯7♭5/A♯ inversion
F♯ 7th flat 5 is played at the 8th fret as 9 10 8 9: middle finger on the G string at fret 9, pinky finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 8 and ring finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 2 | E (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 1 | C (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ 7th flat 5 is built from the formula 1, 3, ♭5, ♭7. The diminished 5th between F♯ and C creates the chord's signature dissonance. Compared to F♯ 7th, the perfect 5th is lowered by one semitone.
What goes wrong with F♯ 7th flat 5?
- The pinky collapses and mutes the C string at fret 4.
- The middle finger lifts off the G string, causing a buzz.
When to use it
F♯ 7th flat 5 fits as a dominant in progressions like F♯7♭5–B7–Emaj7. It suits jazz and fusion for its biting, unresolved color. Pair it with F♯ major for a quick release.
Changing to and from F♯ 7th flat 5
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 2nd fret gives F 7th flat 5.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 4th fret gives G 7th flat 5.
Which voicing to use
The F♯7♭5/A♯ inversion at frets 3-4-2-3 puts A♯ in the bass and is the default shape. The F♯7♭5/C inversion at frets 5-6-6-7 places C in the bass for a darker sound. The F♯7♭5/E inversion at frets 9-10-8-9 has E in the bass and sits higher on the neck.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ 7th flat 5 written?
F♯ 7th flat 5 is written as F♯7♭5 or F♯7-5. The ASCII root is F#, so F#7b5 also works. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ 7th flat 5 and F♯ 7th?
F♯ 7th has a perfect 5th (C♯), while F♯ 7th flat 5 lowers that note to C. This creates a diminished 5th interval and a more dissonant sound.
Why does F♯ 7th flat 5 sound so tense?
The chord contains a tritone between F♯ and C, which is highly unstable. This tension makes it want to resolve to a more consonant chord.