A7 — the A dominant 7 guitar chord

A7 is an open, twangy chord that pulls the music back toward D or E, so you’ll hear it in country and blues turnarounds. Its two fingers sit with a gap between them, and the gap is the trap. The open G string in the middle has to ring, so keep both fingers well arched.

A7
Ⓡ×○1○3○

How to play it

  • Index finger on the D string (4th), 2nd fret.
  • Ring finger on the B string (2nd), 2nd fret.
  • Let the open A string (5th), G string (3rd) and high E string (1st) ring.
  • Don't strum the low E string (6th). It stays silent in this shape.

Changes to practice

Holding A7 still is the easy part. Songs need you to arrive at it in rhythm, so in Strumhold you practice A7 as changes, alongside the rest of the Open 7ths set:

Same root, different color

  • A — A major
  • Am — A minor
  • Am7 — A minor 7
  • Amaj7 — A major 7