F dominant seventh chord (F7)
The F dominant seventh chord (F7) is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a minor seventh on top, F, A, C and E♭ (root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the V7 in B♭ major and the V7 in B♭ minor, and it wants to resolve to B♭ major, a perfect fourth higher.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play F dominant seventh on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 1-3-1-2-1-1, barre at fret 1, with F in the bass (fingers 1-3-1-2-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-8-10-8-10-8, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 8, with F in the bass.
Notes of the F dominant seventh chord on the fretboard
F dominant seventh has 4 notes: F, A, C and E♭. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F (1) · A (5) · C (8) · E♭ (11)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C (3) · E♭ (6) · F (8) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): E♭ (1) · F (3) · A (7) · C (10)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · C (5) · E♭ (8) · F (10)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · E♭ (4) · F (6) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): F (1) · A (5) · C (8) · E♭ (11)
Formula and intervals of F dominant seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-10.
- F: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- A: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above F
- C: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above F
- E♭: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above F
F dominant seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-3-1-3; it sounds A, E♭, F and C.
F dominant seventh on piano
- Keys: F4, A4, C5 and E♭5.
Inversions of F dominant seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: F, A, C and E♭, with F in the bass.
- First inversion (F7/A): A, C, E♭ and F, with A in the bass.
- Second inversion (F7/C): C, E♭, F and A, with C in the bass.
- Third inversion (F7/E♭): E♭, F, A and C, with E♭ in the bass.
Keys that use F dominant seventh
F dominant seventh appears in 3 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ major (2 flats) | V7 | Dominant |
| G minor (2 flats) | VII7 | Subtonic |
| B♭ minor (harmonic minor, 5 flats) | V7 | Dominant |
Progressions with F dominant seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in B♭ major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Cm7 – F7 – B♭maj7
- 12-bar blues in B♭ major (I7–IV7–V7): B♭7 – E♭7 – F7
- Minor cadence in B♭ minor (i–iv–V7): B♭m – E♭m – F7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F dominant seventh chord?
F, A, C and E♭: root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7.
Which keys use F dominant seventh?
Mainly as the V7 in B♭ major and the V7 in B♭ minor. In total it appears in 3 major and minor keys.
What chord does F dominant seventh resolve to?
As a dominant seventh, F dominant seventh (F, A, C and E♭) resolves naturally to B♭ major: its third rises a half step to the new tonic and its seventh falls to the third of the next chord.