G7 Guitar Chord

G7 is the G dominant seventh chord. It has four notes: G, B, D and F. The open shape uses three fingers, no barre, and every string is strummed. G7 leads so strongly to C that you will find it in most songs written in that key.

Three fingers spread across the first three frets with three open strings in the middle. Strum everything.

How to play G7, step by step

Index finger: 1st fret, high E string
Middle finger: 2nd fret, A string
Ring finger: 3rd fret, low E string
Strum all six strings.

The F on the high E string is the note that turns G into G7. Practice moving between C and G7: the two chords partner in an enormous number of songs.

More ways to play G7

There are 4 common G7 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.

G7 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 3, played 353433 — Barre at fret 3

G7 guitar chord diagram, compact, frets 5 to 7, played xx5767 — Compact, frets 5 to 7

G7 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 10, played x 10 12 10 12 10 — Barre at fret 10

If strings go dull or buzz

High E string buzzes: The index finger is stretched away from the other two, so it tends to land lazily. Bring it right behind the 1st fret and press with the very tip.
Open strings sound choked: The ring finger on the low E often bumps the A string, and a flat middle finger can catch the open D. Arch both so the middle of the chord can breathe.
The stretch feels too wide: Tilt the hand slightly toward the nut so the index reaches the 1st fret without pulling the ring finger off the 3rd. The shape loosens up within days.

What makes it a G7

G · B · D · F 1 3 5 ♭7

G7 is a G major triad (G, B, D) plus a minor seventh (F). The F and the B sit at the most unstable distance two notes can have, and they collapse inward onto the E and C of a C chord. That is why G7 is the V7 of C major and C minor, and since C is among the most common keys in popular music, G7 is often the first dominant seventh a player ever needs. When a song feels like it is asking a question, G7 to C is frequently the answer.

G vs G7

G major rings a G on the 3rd fret of the high E string; G7 lowers that top note to an F on the 1st fret. Everything below stays the same, but that single change tips the whole chord toward C. Keep G when the chord is a resting place. Reach for G7 in the last bar before a C chord, where its pull does the work for you.

G7 chord questions

What is the difference between G and G7?

The top note. G major has a G on the high E string at the 3rd fret; G7 lowers it to F at the 1st fret. That F makes the chord pull toward C.

Is G7 easy to play?

Yes. Three fingers, no barre, all six strings strummed. The only challenge is the stretch between the 1st and 3rd frets, which fades with practice.

Why does G7 sound unfinished?

The F and B inside it form the most tense interval in music. Your ear expects them to resolve into a C chord, so G7 on its own feels like a held breath.

Do you strum all six strings in G7?

Yes. Every string is part of the open shape, from the G bass note on the low E to the F on top.

What songs use G7?

Hound Dog and Route 66 use G7 in their blues changes, Sunday Morning cycles it in a ii V I, and Fly Me to the Moon runs it inside a jazz turnaround.