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A7 Guitar Chord

A7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
A7Guitar fingering diagram for A71234×12STRING6ª×5ªA4ªE3ªG2ªC#1ªE
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What sets A7 apart

The notes of A7 are A, C#, E and G. A is the root, C# the major third, E the fifth and G the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are A, C sharp, E and G.

String by string, low to high, it plays A, E, G, C# and E. E appears twice in the main shape, and it is the chord's fifth. It runs from A on string 5 up to E on string 1.

The open strings add notes to A7 too. String 5 gives A, string 3 gives G and string 1 gives E. String 6 stays silent. Every finger presses at fret 2. There is one more position, starting at fret 5.

Change only string 3 in A7 and you have A. A7 and F#m have A and C# in common.

You will find A7 in two different keys. In D major it is the V7 and in D minor the V7. Further down there is a song that uses it.

Chord Progressions

Harmonic circles featuring the A7 chord:

01D D - Bm - Em - A702Dm Dm - Bb - Gm - A7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (A7)

Formula: Dominant Seventh (1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7)
Constituent chord intervals:

A 1C# 3E 5G ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 0 (A)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for A7:

01

Standard

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
○Open
ADegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 1
EDegree 5
3rd String (G)
○Open
GDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 2Finger 2
C#Degree 3
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 5

Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 2 with your Middle finger. Play open: 5th String (A), 3rd String (G), 1st String (High E). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

02

Barre 5

Barre fret 5
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 5Barre
ADegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 7
EDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 5Barre
GDegree ♭7
3rd String (G)
Fret 6
C#Degree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 5Barre
EDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 5Barre
ADegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 5. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 7, 3rd String (G) at fret 6.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (A7)

Standard Position
Key Principle:

Finger 2 on string 4 fret 2 and finger 3 on string 2 fret 2. Strings 5, 3, and 1 vibrate open.

Thumb Placement: Mid-height behind fret 2, or lightly peeking over to mute string 6.

Most Common Beginner Mistake:

Bunching the fingers too closely inside fret 2, causing lateral flesh to graze the open 3rd string.

Immediate Solution: Spread fingers 2 and 3 so each stands on its direct vertical tip. Pick strings 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 in sequence to verify crystal-clear sustain.

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Fretsfret 2
Fretting fingers2
Open5th, 3rd, and 1st
Muted6th

What to check

The open 5th, 3rd, and 1st strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from A7

Listen: A7 → A · Em · C

  1. A7
  2. A
  3. A7
  4. Em
  5. A7
  6. C
A7 → A01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 2: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 2
A7 → Em02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
A7 → C03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

A7 in every key

A7 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
1
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
2

Major keys

Minor keys

A7 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleA7 on four strings, with sound.BassA7 as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (A7)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Twist and Shout"The Beatles • 1963Works as the dominant and leads back to the tonic (D - G - A7).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (A7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the A7 chord?

To play the A7 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the A7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the A7 chord is its root note: A. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the A7 chord and what is its formula?

The A7 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 formula (Dominant Seventh). Its constituent pitches are A, C#, E, G.

How do you prevent the A7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the A7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

What famous songs use the A7 chord?

"Twist and Shout" (The Beatles, 1963). Works as the dominant and leads back to the tonic (D - G - A7).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official A7 chord diagram

A7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheetView circle (D)→

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Other chords in the A family:

Chord A Chord Ab Chord Am Chord Ab7 Chord Amaj7 Chord Abmaj7 Chord Am7 Chord Abm7