F-sharp dominant seventh chord (F#7)
The F♯ dominant seventh chord (F♯7) 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: 2-4-2-3-2-2, barre at fret 2, with F♯ in the bass (fingers 1-3-1-2-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-9-11-9-11-9, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 9, 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): E (0) · F♯ (2) · A♯ (6) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): A♯ (1) · C♯ (4) · E (7) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · F♯ (4) · A♯ (8) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): A♯ (3) · C♯ (6) · E (9) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · E (5) · F♯ (7) · A♯ (11)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · F♯ (2) · A♯ (6) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
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): 3-4-2-4; it sounds A♯, E, F♯ and C♯.
F♯ dominant seventh on piano
- Keys: F♯4, A♯4, C♯5 and E5.
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 (F♯7/A♯): A♯, C♯, E and F♯, with A♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (F♯7/C♯): C♯, E, F♯ and A♯, with C♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (F♯7/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 (5 sharps) | V7 | Dominant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | VII7 | Subtonic |
| B minor (harmonic minor, 2 sharps) | V7 | Dominant |
Progressions with F♯ dominant seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in B major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): C♯m7 – F♯7 – Bmaj7
- 12-bar blues in B major (I7–IV7–V7): B7 – E7 – F♯7
- Minor cadence in B minor (i–iv–V7): Bm – Em – F♯7
F♯ dominant seventh or G♭ dominant seventh?
F♯ dominant seventh (F♯7) and G♭ dominant seventh (G♭7) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written G♭ dominant seventh in flat keys and F♯ dominant seventh in sharp keys.
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.
Is G♭ dominant seventh the same chord as F♯ dominant seventh?
Yes: G♭ dominant seventh and F♯ dominant seventh sound the same and are played the same way. It is written G♭ dominant seventh in flat keys and F♯ dominant seventh in sharp 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.