A7 chord (A dominant 7th) on guitar
How to finger A7, which notes it contains and which chords it is played with. Tap the diagram to hear it, then play it below in a progression with other chords.
About the A7 chord
A7 is A dominant 7th. Notes: A – E – G – C#. Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7.
Difficulty: easy (1 out of 3). Few fingers and a comfortable position: fine from the first weeks. The chord is common, especially in blues, rock and pop, so it is worth knowing after the basics.
How to place your fingers
- String 6 (E): do not play
- String 5 (A): open
- String 4 (D): fret 2
- String 3 (G): open
- String 2 (B): fret 2
- String 1 (e): open
Where it appears
A7 is found in these keys: D (V7), A (I7 (blues)), E (IV7 (blues)).
Progressions with A7
Every progression starts on A7 and all its chords come from one key, so the changes sound natural. Play them in the block above; the Roman numerals show each chord's degree.
Try it in practice
Practise chord changes