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G 7th chord on bass (G7)
Also called or written G7, G, G Dominant 7th or G Major Minor 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionG–B–D–FG73-5-3-4
- First inversionB–D–F–GG7/Bno shape on this instrument
- Second inversionD–F–G–BG7/D10-10-9-10
- Third inversionF–G–B–DG7/F1-2-0-0
How do you play a G 7th chord on bass?
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret on the A string while the other fingers hold their frets cleanly.
G7/D inversion
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
G7/F inversion · open position
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
G7/F inversion · fret 12
G 7th is played at the 12th fret as 13 14 12 12: ring finger on the E string at fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 14, index finger on the D string at fret 12 and middle finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 3 | F (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 4 | B (3) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 1 | D (5) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (1) |
Why it sounds like that
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.
What goes wrong with G 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and buzz the A string at fret 5.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the D string and mute it.
- Striking the open E string instead of fretting it at the 3rd fret.
When to use it
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.
Changing to and from G 7th
- Move to C major by lifting the pinky and shifting the index and middle fingers down one string each.
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 1st fret to play F 7th.
Which voicing to use
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.
Other G chords
Common questions
How does G 7th differ from G major?
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.
Why is G 7th called a dominant 7th chord?
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.
Can G 7th be played with a barre?
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.