A7 chord

A7 is A, C♯, E and G: 1–3–5–♭7 built on A. See and hear it on all three instruments below.

On guitar

x-0-2-0-2-0 · open · easy

Notes: A · C♯ · E · G
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7
First shape: x-0-2-0-2-0

A7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger

On piano

root position · A–C♯–E–G · right hand 1-2-3-5

Notes: A · C♯ · E · G
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7

A7 on piano: fingering and inversions

On ukulele

0-1-0-0 · open · easy

Notes: A · C♯ · E · G
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7
First shape: 0-1-0-0

A7 on ukulele: all shapes

Changing out of A7

The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.

A7 → D (the V7 pulls home a fifth below)
Guitar: A7 (x-0-2-0-2-0) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret, the ring finger comes down on the B string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Listen for A, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: A7 to D: play D in 2nd inversion (A–D–F♯) and A stays under the same finger, while C♯ moves up to D and G down to F♯. D
A7 → Dmaj7 (I in D major)
Guitar: A7 (x-0-2-0-2-0) to Dmaj7 (x-x-0-2-2-2): your middle finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the ring finger comes down on the high E string, 2nd fret. A and C♯ carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: A7 to Dmaj7: play Dmaj7 in 2nd inversion (A–C♯–D–F♯) and A and C♯ stay under the same fingers, while E moves down to D and G down to F♯. Dmaj7
A7 → Bm7 (vi in D major)
Guitar: A7 (x-0-2-0-2-0) to Bm7 (x-2-0-2-0-2): the index finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the ring finger comes down on the high E string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share A, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: A7 to Bm7: play Bm7 in 3rd inversion (A–B–D–F♯) and A stays under the same finger, while C♯ moves down to B, E down to D and G down to F♯. Bm7

Guitar with a capo: capo 2, G7 shape; capo 5, E7 shape; capo 7, D7 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 2, G7 shape; capo 5, E7 shape; capo 7, D7 shape.

How A7 is built

A7 is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a flattened seventh on top. It sounds restless and wants to move, most strongly to D, the chord a fifth below. It is also the backbone of the blues, where every chord can be a seventh.

Count keys (black and white) from A: 4 half steps up to C♯, 3 half steps up to E then 3 half steps up to G.

Note	Role	Half steps
A	root	0
C♯	major third	4
E	perfect fifth	7
G	minor seventh	10

Keys and progressions with A7

A7 belongs to 3 keys: V7 in D major, V7 in D minor (borrowing the raised 7th) and VII7 in B minor.

In A major, I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) is A7 – A7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7. the 12-bar blues

ii–V–I in D major runs Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7. the jazz cadence

Chords close to A7

A7 is A plus G. A
A7 and Amaj7 differ by one note: G in A7, G♯ in Amaj7. They share A, C♯ and E. Amaj7

Chords that share most of their notes with A7: A9, C♯dim, A, C6, C♯dim7, C♯m7♭5.

Every A chord

A7 chord: questions

What notes are in the A7 chord?

A, C♯, E and G. A7 is built 1–3–5–♭7 from A: C♯ is the major third, E is the perfect fifth and G is the minor seventh.

How do you play A7 on guitar?

The usual shape is x-0-2-0-2-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.

How do you play A7 on piano?

Play A, C♯, E and G with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. A sits between the last two black keys of the three. Inversions and left hand.

How do you play A7 on ukulele?

0-1-0-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.

What key is A7 in?

A7 belongs to 3 keys: V7 in D major, V7 in D minor (borrowing the raised 7th) and VII7 in B minor.

What's the difference between A7 and A?

A7 is A plus G.

All three instruments are drawn and played from A, C♯, E and G by the same engine. Updated September 2026.