G7 (G7)

G major with the high E dropped to the 1st fret: the seventh, F, creates tension that pulls toward C. G7 to C is the strongest move in tonal music.

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

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

Chord diagram

e|--1--|
B|--0--|
G|--0--|
D|--0--|
A|--2--|
E|--3--|

Other positions

e|--3--|
B|--3--|
G|--4--|
D|--3--|
A|--5--|
E|--3--|

e|--10--|
B|--12--|
G|--10--|
D|--12--|
A|--10--|
E|--x---|

Common mistakes

High E still sounds like G? Your index should be at the 1st fret on the high E, not the 3rd fret as in G major.

Open D string muted? Your middle finger, at the 2nd fret on the A string, is touching it. Tilt it.

Variations

G: put the high E back at the 3rd fret to get G major again.

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

Heard in

C, Am, F, G7, C: the seventh makes the return to C even stronger.

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around G7.

e|--0--|
B|--1--|
G|--0--|
D|--2--|
A|--3--|
E|--x--|

C majorresolution

e|--1--|
B|--1--|
G|--2--|
D|--3--|
A|--3--|
E|--1--|

F majorIV of the key

e|--1--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

D minorii of the key