Guitar arpeggio

F Dominant 7 Guitar Arpeggio

F Dominant 7 is a four-note seventh-chord arpeggio built from F, A, C, and Eb. It is also commonly called F Dominant Seventh and F7. Use it to study chord tones, interval formulas, and guitar fretboard positions.

Chord tones
F, A, C, Eb
Formula
1 3 5 b7
Semitones
0 4 7 10
Chord symbols
F7
Also called
F Dominant SeventhF7

How to read this arpeggio

The chord tones are shown as pitch classes first. In the fretboard tool, square markers represent F root notes, while circular markers represent the remaining tones in the arpeggio.

Use the interactive fretboard to locate the F root notes and connect the remaining dominant 7 chord tones across standard tuning.

This same arpeggio shape is also commonly called F Dominant Seventh or F7.

Chord construction and defining tones

3A
b7Eb

F dominant 7 is defined by 3 (A) and b7 (Eb). The major third and flat seventh form the tritone that gives a dominant chord its directional tension.

Harmonic use

Use this arpeggio over F7, especially when the chord resolves down a fifth or up a fourth to its tonic.

Practice this arpeggio on guitar

  1. Play the F Dominant 7 arpeggio from one F root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and interval degree aloud.
  2. Play 3 (A) and b7 (Eb) as a two-note guide-tone shape in every position, then add the root and fifth around it.
  3. Outline F7 and resolve its third and flat seventh by semitone into the next chord when possible.

Fretboard diagram

F Dominant 7 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning
F Dominant 7 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning.

Open this arpeggio in the fretboard tool

Start with F Dominant 7 loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Arpeggio diagrams by tuning