Explore chords · Ukulele
G 7th chord on ukulele (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 open shape is a compact four-string grip that suits reentrant tuning.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionG–B–D–FG77-7-7-8
- First inversionB–D–F–GG7/B10-11-10-10
- Second inversionD–F–G–BG7/D0-2-1-2
- Third inversionF–G–B–DG7/F4-5-3-5
How do you play a G 7th chord on ukulele?
G 7th is played in open position as 0 2 1 2: middle finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (3) |
AdvancedThe open G string must ring clearly while three fingers fret adjacent strings.
G7/F inversion
G 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 4 5 3 5: middle finger on the G string at fret 4, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 2 | B (3) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (1) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (5) |
7th fret
G 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 7 7 8: barre your index finger across fret 7 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 (barre) | D (5) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 1 (barre) | G (1) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (3) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (♭7) |
G7/B inversion
G 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 11 10 10: index finger on the G string at fret 10, pinky finger on the C string at fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 10 and ring finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 4 | B (3) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (5) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (1) |
Why it sounds like that
G 7th uses the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th F gives the chord its dominant pull. Compare it with G major, which has no F and sounds settled.
What goes wrong with G 7th?
- Letting the index finger touch the open G string mutes the root.
- Pressing the ring finger too flat deadens the E string next to it.
When to use it
G 7th is the dominant in C major. Play it in C–F–G–C, the I–IV–V–I in C major, to create tension before the final C major. It suits blues, jazz, and folk progressions.
Changing to and from G 7th
- From C major, lift the ring finger and move the middle finger to the A string fret 2.
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 1st fret gives F 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open shape puts G in the bass. For a brighter sound, use the G7/B inversion with B in the bass. The G7/D inversion at fret 7 has D in the bass and works well in mid-register strumming.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G 7th written?
G 7th is written as G or G7. The symbols G and G7 are both used.
What is the difference between G 7th and G major?
G 7th adds an F, which is a minor 7th above G. G major has only G, B, and D. The added F creates a tritone with B, giving G 7th its dominant tension.
Why does G 7th sound unresolved?
The tritone between B and F wants to resolve. In C major, B moves to C and F moves to E. This resolution is what makes G 7th a dominant chord.