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A7 Guitar Chord

A dominant seventh (A7) is made of the notes A C♯ E G. Here are 3 ways to play it on guitar, starting with the easiest.

How to play A7 on guitar

  1. Shape 1

    Open position

    1 2 A E G C♯ E

    x02020

  2. Shape 2

    Barre at fret 5

    5fr 1 3 2 A E G C♯ E A

    575655

  3. Shape 3

    Barre at fret 12

    12fr 1 3 4 A E G C♯ E

    x-12-14-12-14-12

Notes in A7

Formula 1 3 5 ♭7
DegreeNote
1A
3C♯
5E
♭7G

Shape 1 step by step

  1. Put your index finger on string 4 at fret 2.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 2 at fret 2.
  3. Let strings 5, 3, 1 ring open.
  4. Don’t play string 6.
  5. Strum from string 5 to string 1.

Shape 2 step by step

  1. Lay your index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 5.
  2. Put your ring finger on string 5 at fret 7.
  3. Put your middle finger on string 3 at fret 6.
  4. Strum from string 6 to string 1.

Tune your guitar first

A chord only sounds right when your instrument is in tune. Check your strings with the free online tuner before you practise. Open the guitar tuner

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A7 chord?

A dominant seventh has the notes A C♯ E G. Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7. The numbers are steps of the major scale, counted from the root.

What is the easiest way to play A7 on guitar?

Start with shape 1 (open position), written as x02020 from string 6 to string 1. Here x means you don’t play that string and 0 means it rings open.

What is the difference between A7 and Amaj7?

A7 has the notes A C♯ E G, and Amaj7 has A C♯ E G♯. The only difference is that A7 has G where Amaj7 has G♯.

Dominant 7th chords in every key

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