F#7 guitar chord
The F# dominant 7th chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in F#7
- Notes
- F# – A# – C# – E
- Formula
- 1 – 3 – 5 – b7
- Name
- F# dominant 7th
F#7F# · A# · C# · E
4 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- E shape · 2nd fret
- D shape · 4th fret
- C shape · 7th fret
- A shape · 9th fret
What to play over F#7
Start with the chord's own notes — F#, A#, C#, E — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- F# Mixolydian mode
The dominant chord’s own scale: its four notes plus the 2, 4 and 6.
- F# major pentatonic scale
Five notes that sit right on top of the chord.
- F# blues scale
For blues: the ♭3 rubbing against the chord’s 3 is the whole point.
- F# Phrygian dominant scale
When the chord resolves to a minor chord a fourth up (V7 to i): the ♭9 and ♭13 pull hard.
Questions
What notes are in a F#7 chord?
F#7 has 4 notes: F#, A#, C#, E. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – b7.
What scale goes with F#7?
F# Mixolydian mode is the place to start. The dominant chord’s own scale: its four notes plus the 2, 4 and 6.