Also written G7, G or G Dominant 7th
G 7th is built from G, B, D, and F. The 3rd-fret shape stretches the pinky to fret 5 on the A string, making clean fretting the main challenge.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
G 7th uses the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th interval between G and F gives the chord its dominant quality, and the diminished 5th between B and F adds tension. Compare it with G major, which omits the ♭7.
G 7th is the V chord in C major, so it appears in progressions like C–F–G–C (I–IV–V–I). Its dominant pull suits blues, jazz, and rock bass lines that resolve to C.
The 3rd-fret shape has G in the bass and is the most direct voicing. The G7/D inversion at the 10th fret puts D in the bass for a smoother transition from C major, while the G7/F inversion at the 1st fret leads into C major by step.
G 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 4: index finger on the E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 5, middle finger on the D string at fret 3 and ring finger on the G string at fret 4.
Tip — The pinky must reach from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret on the A string while the other fingers hold their frets cleanly.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (1) |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (5) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 2 | F (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (3) |
G 7th is played at the 9th fret as 10 10 9 10: middle finger on the E string at fret 10, ring finger on the A string at fret 10, index finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (5) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (1) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 1 | B (3) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (♭7) |
G 7th is played in open position as 1 2 0 0: index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 2. The D and G strings ring open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (3) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
G 7th is played at the 12th fret as 13 14 12 12: barre your index finger across fret 12, middle finger on the E string at fret 13 and ring finger on the A string at fret 14.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 2 | F (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 3 | B (3) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 1 (barre) | D (5) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 1 (barre) | G (1) |
G 7th adds an F note, the minor 7th, to the G major triad. That F creates a tritone with B, giving G 7th its dominant tension.
G 7th is built on the fifth degree of C major, where it functions as the dominant. The name comes from that dominant function, not from the chord's internal intervals.
The 3rd-fret shape uses individual fingers, not a barre. The G7/D inversion at the 10th fret also uses separate fingers, so no barre is required.