Which notes are in the G7 chord?

G7 contains the notes G, B, D and F. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7.

How many ways can you play G7?

Minory lists 2 guitar fingerings for G7, 2 of which are barre shapes. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.

Is the G7 chord hard to play?

G7 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.

G dominant 7th · Guitar

G7 Chord on Guitar

The G7 chord (G dominant 7th) is built from the notes G, B, D and F. 2 different guitar fingerings for it are shown below.

Chord diagrams

Position 1barre shape · starts at fret 3

Fingering

string 6 (E): fret 3 — index finger
string 5 (A): fret 5 — ring finger
string 4 (D): fret 3 — index finger
string 3 (G): fret 4 — middle finger
string 2 (B): fret 3 — index finger
string 1 (E): fret 3 — index finger

Position 2barre shape · starts at fret 10

Fingering

string 6 (E): muted
string 5 (A): fret 10 — index finger
string 4 (D): fret 12 — ring finger
string 3 (G): fret 10 — index finger
string 2 (B): fret 12 — little finger
string 1 (E): fret 10 — index finger

Notes in this chord

Degrees: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7

How to play

Every guitar shape for G7 needs a barre, and the lowest one starts at fret 3. Keep the index finger straight and as close to the fret wire as possible, and let the wrist rather than the thumb supply the pressure.

Theory behind the chord

Dominant seventh chords add a minor seventh on top of a major triad. The tension between the third and the seventh is what makes them pull towards the chord a fourth above — the engine of blues and jazz turnarounds. On G7 this structure sits on the root G, so the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 map onto G, B, D and F.

Frequently asked questions

Which notes are in the G7 chord?: G7 contains the notes G, B, D and F. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7.
How many ways can you play G7?: Minory lists 2 guitar fingerings for G7, 2 of which are barre shapes. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.
Is the G7 chord hard to play?: G7 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.

Practise G7 on your phone

Minory bundles the full chord library with a tuner, metronome and repertoire notebook — and it all works offline.