The Open G7 Chord

The Formula of the Chord

The G7 chord, also known as the G dominant 7th chord, is a versatile chord used in many musical genres, including blues, jazz, and rock. This chord adds a distinctive and slightly dissonant sound compared to the regular G major chord, making it useful for adding tension 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 G7 chord, the specific notes involved are:

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

In the open G7 chord, the voicing we play includes these notes distributed across the strings as follows:

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

How to Play the Chord

To play the open G7 chord using the E, A, D, G, B, and E strings, follow these step-by-step instructions:

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

Ensure your fingers are pressing down firmly just behind the frets to get a clear sound. Strum all six strings together to play the G7 chord. The combination of open strings and the fretted notes creates a full and resonant sound typical of the G7 chord.

Chord Visualisation

Below is the tablature to help you visualise the G7 chord:

Tablature:

e|---1---| (First Finger)
B|---0---| (Open String)
G|---0---| (Open String)
D|---0---| (Open String)
A|---2---| (Middle Finger)
E|---3---| (Ring Finger)