E7 chord
E7 is E, G♯, B and D: 1–3–5–♭7 built on E. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
0-2-0-1-0-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · D
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7
- First shape
- 0-2-0-1-0-0
E7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E–G♯–B–D · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · D
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7
E7 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-2-0-2 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · D
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7
- First shape
- 1-2-0-2
E7 and the chords around it
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- E7 → A (the V7 pulls home a fifth below)
Guitar: E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): your index finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the B string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: E.
Piano: E7 to A: play A in 2nd inversion (E–A–C♯) and E stays under the same finger, while G♯ moves up to A and D down to C♯. A - E7 → Amaj7 (I in A major)
Guitar: E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0) to Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the ring finger comes down on the B string, 2nd fret. Shared notes: E and G♯.
Piano: E7 to Amaj7: play Amaj7 in 2nd inversion (E–G♯–A–C♯) and E and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while B moves down to A and D down to C♯. Amaj7 - E7 → F♯m7 (vi in A major)
Guitar: E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0) to F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 4th fret. E carries over from one chord to the other.
Piano: E7 to F♯m7: play F♯m7 in 3rd inversion (E–F♯–A–C♯) and E stays under the same finger, while G♯ moves down to F♯, B down to A and D down to C♯. F♯m7
Guitar with a capo: capo 2, D7 shape; capo 4, C7 shape; capo 5, B7 shape; capo 7, A7 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 2, D7 shape; capo 4, C7 shape; capo 5, B7 shape; capo 7, A7 shape.
How E7 is built
E7 is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a flattened seventh on top. It sounds restless and wants to move, most strongly to A, the chord a fifth below. It is also the backbone of the blues, where every chord can be a seventh.
From E, go 4 half steps up to G♯, 3 half steps up to B then 3 half steps up to D.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 | |
| G♯ | major third | 4 | |
| B | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| D | minor seventh | 10 |
Keys and progressions with E7
You'll find E7 as V7 in A major. On the minor side it's V7 in A minor (borrowing the raised 7th) and VII7 in F♯ minor.
In E major, I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) is E7 – E7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7. the 12-bar blues
ii–V–I in A major runs Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7. the jazz cadence
Chords close to E7
- E7 is E plus D. E
- E7 and Emaj7 differ by one note: D in E7, D♯ in Emaj7. They share E, G♯ and B. Emaj7
Chords that share most of their notes with E7: E9, E, G♯dim, C♯m7, Ddim7, Emaj7.
Every E chord
E7 chord: questions
What notes are in the E7 chord?
E, G♯, B and D. E7 is built 1–3–5–♭7 from E: G♯ is the major third, B is the perfect fifth and D is the minor seventh.
How do you play E7 on guitar?
The usual shape is 0-2-0-1-0-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play E7 on piano?
Play E, G♯, B and D with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. E sits just right of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play E7 on ukulele?
1-2-0-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is E7 in?
You'll find E7 as V7 in A major. On the minor side it's V7 in A minor (borrowing the raised 7th) and VII7 in F♯ minor.
What's the difference between E7 and E?
E7 is E plus D.
Every diagram on this page is generated from the notes E, G♯, B and D and checked automatically so the sound matches the drawing. Updated September 2026.