A7 Chord
How to play A 7th on guitar — bluesy and unresolved — it leans hard toward the chord a fourth above.
- Notes
- A – C♯ – E – G
- Frets (low → high)
- x 0 2 0 2 0
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Shape
- Movable shape at fret 2
How to play A7, step by step
- 1Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string (4th).
- 2Put your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the B string (2nd).
- 3Leave the low E string out — mute it with the side of a finger, or just avoid it as you strum.
- 4Let the A, G and high E strings ring open.
- 5Strum slowly and check every string sounds cleanly; if one buzzes, press closer to the fret wire and arch your fingers so they clear the neighbouring strings.
What makes a dominant seventh chord
Bluesy and unresolved — it leans hard toward the chord a fourth above.
| Note | Interval | Semitones above A |
|---|---|---|
| A | root | 0 |
| C♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| E | 5th | 7 |
| G | minor 7th | 10 |
Other A chords
Same root, different colour. Swapping one of these into a progression is the quickest way to change its mood without changing the key.
Every 7th chord
The same shape moved around the neck. If you can play A7 you are a fret-slide away from all of these.
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the A7 chord?
- A7 is made of A, C♯, E, G — the root, major 3rd, 5th, minor 7th of A.
- Is A7 hard to play?
- No — A7 sits at x 0 2 0 2 0 and is rated beginner, so it is comfortable for most beginners.
Got a chart full of chords like A7?
Upload a chord sheet and move every chord into a key that fits your hands and your voice — the layout stays exactly as printed. Or let the capo calculator pick the position that turns the barre chords into open ones.