G7 Guitar Chord

321

G7

NameG dominant 7
NotesGBDF
IntervalsRroot3major 3rd55thb7flat 7th

Root

Chord type

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Shape

Tone

Dots show

G7 is the chord that pulls you home to C. Swap the top note of G major for an F on the high E string and you've got it.

How to play the G7 chord

  1. Put your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string (G).
  2. Put your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the A string (B).
  3. Put your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the high E string (F).
  4. Let the D, G and B strings ring open (D, G, B).
  5. Strum from the low E string down.

TipReach your 1st finger over to the 1st fret of the high E string. It's a stretch at first, so keep your wrist low and your thumb behind the neck.

5 ways to play G7

Every shape below is a real G7, checked note by note: G, B, D, F and nothing else. Easiest first, with the dark dot on the root.

G7 chord diagram, open: 3 2 0 0 0 1
Open EasyWith sound The one most players learn first. This is the shape you hear on the play button.
G7 chord diagram, 5th fret: x x 5 7 6 7
5th fret Medium 4 strings, root on the D string. Higher and lighter, great for a second guitar part.
G7 chord diagram, 8th fret: x 10 9 10 8 x
8th fret Medium The open C7 shape moved up, root on the A string. A fuller sound, but a stretch.
G7 chord diagram, barre, 10th fret: x 10 12 10 12 10
Barre, 10th fret Medium Root on the A string. The open A7 shape moved up with a barre, a movable shape for any dominant 7 chord.
G7 chord diagram, barre, 3rd fret: 3 5 3 4 3 3
Barre, 3rd fret Hard Root on the low E string. It's the open E7 shape moved up with your 1st finger as the nut, so you can slide it to any dominant 7 chord.

G vs G7: hear the difference

G7 is G plus F (the flat 7th). Play them back to back:

G7

GBDF

Bluesy and restless

G

GBD

Bright and settled

Chord progressions with G7

Chords make sense once you move between them. Press play to hear each progression with the real recordings, one chord per bar, then play along. Tap any chord to open its page.

Blues shuffle

I7 - IV7 - I7 - V7 in G
G7 C7 G7 D7
In the blues every chord is a 7.

The V7 going home

I - IV - V7 - I in C
C F G7 C
A dominant 7 wants to resolve to the chord a 5th below.

Minor key V7

i - iv - V7 - i in C minor
Cm Fm G7 Cm
The same pull, in a minor key.

Practice changing to G7

Switching chords cleanly is what makes a new chord usable in a song. Start the timer, then go back and forth between G7 and the chord you picked, strumming each one, and keep a count in your head. Your hands stay on the guitar the whole time. When it beeps, type in your count and try to beat it next time.

G7 to C7

60seconds

-last try

-your best

Practice G7 with

Songs that use G7

  • Jambalaya (On the Bayou) by Hank WilliamsWhole song is C-G7
  • Hey Good Lookin' by Hank WilliamsVerse C-D7-G7-C
  • Sunday Morning by Maroon 5Whole song is Dm7-G7-C
  • Lean on Me by Bill WithersVerse ends C-F-C-G7-C

Learn it with a teacher

Diagrams show you where your fingers go. A teacher shows you how to make it sound good. Start with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:

Blues Basics - The Chords Free with an account · Chris Feener Chord Changes for Beginners - Transitions Free with an account · Chris Feener Mastering Bar Chords - Introduction Free with an account · Chris Feener

Access these lessons with a free account. No payment needed. Sign up free

Chords that go with G7

C7dominant 7D7dominant 7CmajorFmajorCmminorFmminor

Other G chords

GmajorGmminorGmaj7major 7Gm7minor 7Gsus4suspended 4G7sus47 suspended 4G5power chordG6major 6Gm6minor 6G9dominant 9GaugaugmentedGdim7diminished 7

Other dominant 7 chords

C7C E G BbC#7C# E# G# BD7D F# A CEb7Eb G Bb DbE7E G# B DF7F A C EbF#7F# A# C# EAb7Ab C Eb GbA7A C# E GBb7Bb D F AbB7B D# F# A

See all 154 chords in the Guitar Chord Chart

G7 chord FAQ

What notes are in a G7 chord?

G7 has 4 notes: G (the root), B (the major 3rd), D (the 5th) and F (the flat 7th). Every G7 shape on the guitar is those notes in a different order.

What is the difference between G and G7?

G7 is G plus F (the flat 7th). Use the player above to hear both.

Is G7 hard to play?

No, it's one of the easier ones: 3 fingers and no barre, and the open strings do some of the work. Practice switching to it from a chord you already know.

How do you play G7 as a barre chord?

Barre the 10th fret with your 1st finger, using the A shape (x-10-12-10-12-10). That shape is movable: slide it up or down and it plays a dominant 7 chord on every fret.

What key is G7 in?

It's the V7 chord in C major and C minor, and the I7 chord in a blues in G.