The Open E7 Chord

The Formula of the Chord

The E7 chord, also known as the E dominant 7th chord, is a fundamental chord in various musical genres, especially blues, rock, and jazz. This chord introduces a slightly more complex and tense sound compared to the regular E major chord, making it a powerful tool for adding depth and character to your music. The formula for a dominant 7th chord includes four intervals: the root (R), the major third (3), the perfect fifth (5), and the minor seventh (b7). For the E7 chord, the specific notes involved are:

• Root (R): E
• Major Third (3): G#
• Perfect Fifth (5): B
• Minor Seventh (b7): D

In the open E7 chord, the voicing we play includes these notes distributed across the strings as follows:

• 6th string (E): E (R)
• 5th string (A): B (5)
• 4th string (D): D (b7)
• 3rd string (G): G# (3)
• 2nd string (B): B (5)
• 1st string (E): E (R)

How to Play the Chord

To play the open E7 chord using the E, A, D, G, B, and E strings, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Low E String: Start by playing the 6th string (E string) open. This string produces the root note, E (R).
2. Middle Finger: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string (A string). This will produce the note B (5).
3. Open D String: Leave the 4th string (D string) open. This string produces the note D (b7).
4. Index Finger: Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 3rd string (G string). This will produce the note G# (3).
5. Open B String: Leave the 2nd string (B string) open. This string produces the note B (5).
6. Open High E String: Leave the 1st string (high E string) open. This string produces the note E (R).

Ensure your fingers are pressing down firmly just behind the frets to get a clear sound. Strum all six strings together to play the E7 chord. The combination of open strings and the fretted note creates a full and resonant sound typical of the E7 chord.

Chord Visualisation

Below is the tablature to help you visualise the E7 chord:

Tablature:

e|---0---| (Open String)
B|---0---| (Open String)
G|---1---| (Index Finger)
D|---0---| (Open String)
A|---2---| (Middle Finger)
E|---0---| (Open String)

By following these instructions, you should be able to play the open E7 chord effectively. This chord shape is straightforward and adds a rich, bluesy flavour to your playing. Just remember all you have to do to find it is play your normal E major chord shape and remove your ring finger!