In this section: Chords

E7 (E7)

E major with one finger fewer: the open D string supplies the seventh. It’s the chord that sends a blues in A back to the top.

It’s played in open position, near the nut, and as a barre chord higher up the neck. It pulls toward A major: you hear it right before the return home in songs in A major, and all over the blues.

Notes:: E, G♯, B, D.
Formula:: 1, 3, 5, ♭7.
Difficulty:: Beginner.
Strings played:: 6.

Chord diagram

e|--0--|
B|--0--|
G|--1--|
D|--0--|
A|--2--|
E|--0--|

Other positions

e|--7--|
B|--9--|
G|--7--|
D|--9--|
A|--7--|
E|--x--|

Common mistakes

Open D string muted? Your middle finger, on the 2nd fret of the A string, is touching it. Curve it more.

Still hearing E major? Make sure your ring finger is lifted: the open D string is what gives you the seventh.

Variations

The A-shape barre chord at the 7th fret gives you a higher E7 (see the other positions).

Heard in

A blues in A moves through A7, D7 and E7. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), in its original key, hits E7 just before landing back on A minor.

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around E7.

e|--0--|
B|--2--|
G|--2--|
D|--2--|
A|--0--|
E|--x--|

A majorresolution

e|--2--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

D majorIV of the key

e|--2--|
B|--3--|
G|--4--|
D|--4--|
A|--2--|
E|--x--|

B minorii of the key