F#7 is the chord that pushes a song toward B. It is F# major with an E added, and that E creates the tension a dominant chord is made of. Most chord charts show it as a barre at the second fret, but there is a complete four string version with no barre at all, thanks to the open high E. Start there, then move to the barre when you need the full sound.
F#7 chord: notes and shapes at a glance
- Name: F sharp dominant seventh
- Symbol: F#7
- Notes: F#, A#, C#, E
- Where it belongs: V7 in B major, V7 in B minor
Each shape below is written from the thickest string to the thinnest: a
number is the fret, 0 an open string, x a string you
do not play. New to this? See how to read chord diagrams.
| Shape | Frets, low E to high E | Notes, low to high | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| F#7, four strings | xx4320 | F# A# C# E | No barre: three fingers and the open high E, which is the seventh. Strum the top four strings. |
| F#7, thumb bass | 2x4320 | F# F# A# C# E | The same shape with the thumb on F# at the second fret of the low E. The fifth string stays muted. |
| F#7, barre at the second fret | 242322 | F# C# E A# C# F# | The standard F#7: the open E7 shape moved up two frets. The barre itself plays E, the seventh, on the fourth string. |
| F#7, ninth fret | x 9 11 9 11 9 | F# C# E A# C# | The A7 shape barred at fret 9: third finger on the fourth string at fret 11, fourth finger on the second string at fret 11. |
Read each diagram from the thickest string on the left to the thinnest on the right. A cross means the string is not played, a circle means it rings open.
F#7 on the neck: every F#, A#, C#, E
Standard tuning, frets 0 to 12. The highlighted notes are the notes of F#7: any shape you build from them, anywhere on the neck, is still F#7.
How to play F#7, step by step
1. No barre: xx4320
Third finger on the fourth string at fret 4 (F#), second finger on the third string at fret 3 (A#), first finger on the second string at fret 2 (C#). Leave the high E open: it is the seventh. Strum from the fourth string down.
2. The barre: 242322
Lay the first finger across all six strings at fret 2. Third finger on the fifth string at fret 4, second finger on the third string at fret 3. The fourth string has no finger of its own: the barre plays E there, and that E is what makes the chord a seventh.
F#7 leads to B
F#7 is the V7 of B. Its A# wants to rise a half step to B, and its E wants to fall to the third of the next chord. Play F#7, hold it, and your ear will ask for B or B minor. That is why it shows up right before them.
| Change | Shapes | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| F#7 to B | 242322 to x24442 | V7 to I. The first finger stays on fret 2; the rest of the hand regroups at fret 4. |
| F#7 to Bm | 242322 to x24432 | V7 to i, the classic minor key resolution. |
| Bm to F#7 (no barre) | xx4432 to xx4320 | The third finger keeps fret 4 on the fourth string. |
| C#m7, F#7, B | x46454, 242322, x24442 | ii, V7, I in B: the move that drives a lot of soul and jazz. |
Where you hear F#7
Two well known songs put it to work. Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely loops C#m7, F#7, B7 and E, each chord a fifth below the last, with F#7 in the middle of the chain. The Eagles' Hotel California is in B minor and comes back to Bm through F#: its chord list includes both F# and F#7.
In both cases F#7 is a tension, not a resting place. Do not linger on it unless the song does.
Common mistakes
- The E on the fourth string is dead. In the barre shape no finger covers it, so the barre must. Keep the first finger close to the fret wire and check that string on its own.
- The open A rings in xx4320. A is not in F#7 and it clashes with A#. Start the strum on the fourth string.
- Confusing F#7 and F#m7. The "m" changes the third. If your chart says F#7, the second finger stays on the third string at fret 3.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play F#7 on guitar?
What notes are in F#7?
What chord does F#7 resolve to?
What is the difference between F#7 and F#m7?
Who made this
Guitar Social Club is the work of Yohann Abbou, a guitar teacher in Paris who teaches adults. Every shape on this page is written string by string and checked against standard tuning, and the diagrams are drawn from those same fret numbers. The rest of our free guitar tools, including the chord finder, work the same way.
More about Yohann on his page, and about why Guitar Social Club exists.