F Dominant Seventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
F Dominant Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: F, A, C, Eb
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m
Formula: 2W-WH-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: 7, dom
The F Dominant Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (F, A, C, Eb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the F Dominant Seventh Arpeggio
Play the F Dominant Seventh arpeggio whenever a F Dominant Seventh chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The F Dominant Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (F, A, C, Eb) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play F Dominant Seventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your F Dominant Seventh arpeggio at fret 1 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 8th fret on the A string. This 4-note arpeggio (F, A, C, Eb) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The F Dominant Seventh arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over F7, F9, F13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Practice the F Dominant Seventh arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the A an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3M, 5P, 7m) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the F Dominant Seventh arpeggio using string skipping — jump over a string between each note to create wider intervals. This technique produces a more pianistic, open sound compared to sweep picking and develops precise right-hand accuracy.
Related Resources
Explore F Dominant Seventh in Other Tunings
- F Dominant Seventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- F Dominant Seventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- F Dominant Seventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- F Dominant Seventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- F Dominant Seventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- F Dominant Seventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- F Dominant Seventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- F Dominant Seventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- F Dominant Seventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- F Dominant Seventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- F Dominant Seventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- F Dominant Seventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- F Dominant Seventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- F Dominant Seventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)