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Guitar chords · Dominant 7th

F♯7 chord on guitar (F#7)

F♯7 (F♯ ) has four notes: F♯, A♯, C♯ and E, the , 3, 5 and ♭7.

Shapes

How to play F♯7

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

F♯7 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 2 or the A shape at fret 9. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 2

    R5♭735RF♯C♯EA♯C♯F♯
  • A shape · fret 9

    9fr×R5♭735F♯C♯EA♯C♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes F♯7 dominant 7th

A chord is a major chord with a minor 7th added. Its 3rd and 7th are a apart, and that tension pulls it to the chord a 5th below: the V7–I move that ends so many phrases. It is also the sound of the blues.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The 3rd and the ♭7th make F♯7 a chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. F♯Rroot
  2. A♯3essential
  3. C♯5optional
  4. E♭7essential
EADGBE0135791215F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯EA♯C♯EA♯C♯EA♯EA♯C♯EA♯C♯EA♯C♯EA♯C♯EA♯C♯E
  • F♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

F♯7 usually resolves to B or Bm, the chord a 5th below: the V7–I move.

F♯7 and G♭7 are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with F♯7

F♯7 belongs to three keys: B major (V7), B minor (V7, ) and G♯ minor (VII7).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with F♯7

Common progressions that use F♯7, each in a key that spells it F♯7. The outlined chord is F♯7.

  • Jazz ii–V–I in B major

    ii7 – V7 – Imaj7

    1. C♯m7
    2. F♯7
    3. Bmaj7

    Each chord falls a fifth to the next — a walk anticlockwise around the circle.

    Heard in Autumn Leaves, Fly Me to the Moon

  • 12-bar blues in F♯ major

    I7 – I7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7

    1. F♯7
    2. F♯7
    3. F♯7
    4. F♯7
    5. B7
    6. B7
    7. F♯7
    8. F♯7
    9. C♯7
    10. B7
    11. F♯7
    12. C♯7

    Dominant 7th chords on I, IV and V across twelve bars. The foundation of blues and early rock 'n' roll.

    Heard in Johnny B. Goode, Pride and Joy, Hound Dog

  • Minor ii–V–i in B minor

    iiø7 – V7 – i7

    1. C♯m7♭5
    2. F♯7
    3. Bm7

    Half-diminished ii, dominant V7 and back to the minor tonic.

    Heard in Blue Bossa, Autumn Leaves

Slash chords

F♯7 over another bass note

A keeps F♯7 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • F♯7/A♯

    F♯7 with its 3rd, A♯, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • F♯7/C♯

    F♯7 with its 5th, C♯, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • F♯7/E

    F♯7 with its ♭7th, E, in the bass: the third inversion.

Questions

F♯7, in short

What notes are in the F♯7 chord?
F♯7 (F♯ ) has four notes: F♯, A♯, C♯ and E, the , 3, 5 and ♭7.
How do you play F♯7 on guitar?
F♯7 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 2 or the A shape at fret 9.
What key is F♯7 in?
F♯7 belongs to three keys: B major (V7), B minor (V7, ) and G♯ minor (VII7).
Is F♯7 the same as G♭7?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. F♯7 is the spelling in B major, B minor and G♯ minor; G♭7 only in C♭ major and A♭ minor, which most players write as B major and G♯ minor.
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