A7 Guitar Chord

A7 is the A dominant seventh chord. It has four notes: A, C♯, E and G. The open shape needs only two fingers, which makes A7 one of the first seventh chords most players can grab, and it pulls strongly toward D, so it turns up constantly in songs in D and in blues in A.

Two fingers, three open strings. Most players can hold this shape within their first weeks on the instrument.

How to play A7, step by step

Middle finger: 2nd fret, D string
Ring finger: 2nd fret, B string
Leave the A and G and high E strings open. Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

Once the two finger grip feels steady, try the barre version at fret 5. Same four notes with a low A underneath, and the grip moves anywhere on the neck.

More ways to play A7

There are 3 common A7 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

A7 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 5, played 575655 — Barre at fret 5

A7 guitar chord diagram, compact, frets 7 to 9, played xx7989 — Compact, frets 7 to 9

If A7 will not ring clean

Open G string sounds dead: Your middle finger on the D string is leaning over its neighbor. Stand it up on its tip so the open G has room to ring.
High E string is muted: The ring finger on the B string is brushing it. Curl the last joint so the fingertip comes down straight instead of at an angle.
Low E rumbles into the chord: It is not part of A7. Start the strum on the open A string, or drape your thumb over the top of the neck to keep the low E quiet.

What makes it an A7

A · C♯ · E · G 1 3 5 ♭7

A7 is a dominant seventh: an A major triad (A, C♯, E) with a minor seventh (G) added on top. The G rubs against the C♯, and that rub is the pull: A7 wants to land on D. This makes it the V7 chord of D major and D minor, so expect it whenever a song in D needs to come home. In blues in A the rules relax, and A7 simply sits as the home chord for the whole twelve bars.

A vs A7

A major has three notes; A7 trades one of the doubled notes for a G. On guitar the swap is easy to see: standard A puts three fingers in a row at the 2nd fret, and A7 lifts the middle one so the G string rings open. That makes A7 the easier grip of the two. Choose A7 when the song is heading to D or when you want a bluesier color; keep plain A when the chord is home base.

A7 chord questions

Is A7 an easy chord?

Yes. The open shape uses two fingers and no barre, and three strings ring open. Many players find it easier than plain A major.

What is the difference between A and A7?

A7 adds a G note to the three notes of A major. In the open shapes, A7 is A with one finger lifted so the G string rings open.

What does A7 resolve to?

D. A7 is the dominant (V) chord of D major and D minor, and in blues in A it doubles as the home chord.

Do you play the low E string in A7?

No. The low E is not in the chord. Strum from the open A string down, or mute the low E with your thumb.

What songs use A7?

Yesterday by The Beatles uses A7 to set up D minor, and blues standards like Crossroads and Sweet Home Chicago run on A7 for bars at a time.