A7 Guitar Chord
A7 is a dominant seventh chord. It adds a minor seventh to a major chord, which creates tension that wants to move on to the next chord. It is everywhere in blues. Its notes are A, C#, E and G. Below are 3 ways to play it, each with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.
Notes in A7
| Note | Degree | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| A | R | Root |
| C# | 3 | Major 3rd |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th |
Formula: 1–3–5–b7
A7 chord shapes
Finger numbers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. In the tab, x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. In the diagrams the top line is the 1st (thinnest) string and the nut is on the left.
Open
Easiest- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- x 0 2 0 2 0
- Fingers
- – – 2 – 3 –
E-shape 5fr
- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- 5 7 5 6 5 5
- Fingers
- 1 3 1 2 1 1
A-shape 12fr
- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- x 12 14 12 14 12
- Fingers
- – 1 3 1 4 1
How to play A7 (easiest shape)
Shape: Open, tab x 0 2 0 2 0 (6th to 1st string).
- 1Put your middle finger (2) on the 4th string at the 2nd fret.
- 2Put your ring finger (3) on the 2nd string at the 2nd fret.
- 3Let the 5th, 3rd and 1st strings ring open.
- 4Don't play the 6th string.
- 5Strum down from the 5th string to the 1st string.
A7: common questions
- What notes are in the A7 chord?
- A7 has 4 notes: A, C#, E and G. Counted from the root, that is 1–3–5–b7.
- Is there an easier way to play A7?
- The easiest shape on this page is "Open" (x 0 2 0 2 0). It needs no barre: each finger presses just one string.
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See all 231 chords in the chord library, find a scale to play over them, or tune up before you start.