F major seventh chord (Fmaj7)
The F major seventh chord (Fmaj7) is a major seventh chord: a major triad with a major seventh on top, F, A, C and E (root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh).
It is the Imaj7 in F major and the IVmaj7 in C major; its relative is D minor seventh, and C dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play F major seventh on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 1-3-2-2-1-1, barre at fret 1, with F in the bass (fingers 1-4-2-3-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-8-10-9-10-8, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 8, with F in the bass.
Notes of the F major seventh chord on the fretboard
F major 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): E (0) · F (1) · A (5) · C (8) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C (3) · E (7) · F (8) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · F (3) · A (7) · C (10)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · C (5) · E (9) · F (10)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · E (5) · F (6) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · F (1) · A (5) · C (8) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of F major seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-11.
- 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: Major seventh (M7), 11 semitones above F
F major seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-4-1-3; it sounds A, E, F and C.
F major seventh on piano
- Keys: F4, A4, C5 and E5.
Inversions of F major seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: F, A, C and E, with F in the bass.
- First inversion (Fmaj7/A): A, C, E and F, with A in the bass.
- Second inversion (Fmaj7/C): C, E, F and A, with C in the bass.
- Third inversion (Fmaj7/E): E, F, A and C, with E in the bass.
Keys that use F major seventh
F major seventh appears in 4 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F major (1 flat) | Imaj7 | Tonic |
| C major (no sharps or flats) | IVmaj7 | Subdominant |
| D minor (1 flat) | IIImaj7 | Mediant |
| A minor (no sharps or flats) | VImaj7 | Submediant |
Progressions with F major seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in F major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Gm7 – C7 – Fmaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F major seventh chord?
F, A, C and E: root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-7.
Which keys use F major seventh?
Mainly as the Imaj7 in F major and the IVmaj7 in C major. In total it appears in 4 major and minor keys.
What is the difference between F major seventh and a dominant seventh chord?
The seventh: in F major seventh (F, A, C and E) it is major, a half step below the octave, while in a dominant seventh it is minor. That is why F major seventh sounds stable, like a chord of rest, and a dominant seventh wants to resolve.