Piano chord
F7F dominant seventh
- F1
- A3
- C5
- E♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play F7 on piano
- Find F: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on F, 3 on A, 4 on C, 5 on E♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on F, 3 on A, 2 on C, 1 on E♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · F – A – C – E♭
1st inversion · A – C – E♭ – F
2nd inversion · C – E♭ – F – A
3rd inversion · E♭ – F – A – C
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
F7 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on F; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: FRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: ARight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: CRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with F7
The other chords of B flat major, the key where F7 is home (V7). Songs in this key move between them.
F7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays F an octave lower, the right hand plays F–A–C–E♭.
F7 on other instruments
About the F7 chord
To build F dominant seventh, take these 4 notes from the root up: F (1), A (3), C (5), E♭ (♭7). A dominant seventh: a major triad with the flat seventh on top. It creates tension that wants to resolve, usually to the chord a fifth below.
The keys are F – A – C – E♭, counted up from F; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 10 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold F7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of F7 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is A (A–C–E♭–F). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C (C–E♭–F–A). In the 3rd inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–F–A–C).
Compared with F, F7 has one more note, E♭.
You meet F7 in these keys: B flat major (V7), G minor (VII7), B flat minor (V7).
Questions
What notes are in the F7 chord?
F7 (F dominant seventh) has 4 notes: F (1), A (3), C (5), E♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does F7 have?
F7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F–A–C–E♭); 1st inversion (A–C–E♭–F); 2nd inversion (C–E♭–F–A); 3rd inversion (E♭–F–A–C).
What is the difference between F7 and F?
Compared with F, F7 has one more note, E♭.
Can I play F7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position F7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.