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A7 Chord on Guitar

A7 is the A dominant 7th chord — 4 notes (A, C♯, E, G) built from the formula 1 3 5 ♭7. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: A · C♯ · E · GFormula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

A7: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • A7 – open position×R5♭735open position
  • A7 – fret 2R35R3♭7fret 2
  • A7 – fret 55R5♭735Rfret 5
  • A7 – fret 66××R3♭73fret 6
  • A7 – fret 77××R5♭73fret 7
  • A7 – fret 1010×R3♭7R×fret 10
  • A7 – fret 1111×R3♭73×fret 11
  • A7 – fret 1212×R5♭735fret 12

A7: Drop 2 voicings

  • A7 – bass: 5115R3♭7××bass: 5
  • A7 – bass: 56×5R3♭7×bass: 5
  • A7 – bass: 5××5R3♭7bass: 5
  • A7 – bass: ♭7♭735R××bass: ♭7
  • A7 – bass: ♭79×♭735R×bass: ♭7
  • A7 – bass: ♭75××♭735Rbass: ♭7
  • A7 – bass: R5R5♭73××bass: R
  • A7 – bass: R12×R5♭73×bass: R
  • A7 – bass: R7××R5♭73bass: R
  • A7 – bass: 373♭7R5××bass: 3
  • A7 – bass: 3×3♭7R5×bass: 3
  • A7 – bass: 310××3♭7R5bass: 3

A7: Drop 3 voicings

  • A7 – bass: 373×R5♭7×bass: 3
  • A7 – bass: 3×3×R5♭7bass: 3
  • A7 – bass: 5105×3♭7R×bass: 5
  • A7 – bass: 55×5×3♭7Rbass: 5
  • A7 – bass: ♭7♭7×5R3×bass: ♭7
  • A7 – bass: ♭79×♭7×5R3bass: ♭7
  • A7 – bass: R5R×♭735×bass: R
  • A7 – bass: R12×R×♭735bass: R

A7: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • A7 – R-3-7R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • A7 – R-3-711×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • A7 – R-7-35R×♭73××R-7-3
  • A7 – R-7-312×R×♭73×R-7-3

Keys that contain A7

Scales to play over A7

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain A, C♯, E, G.

Other A chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Dominant 7th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the A7 chord?
A7 (A dominant 7th) contains A, C♯, E, G — formula 1 3 5 ♭7.
How do you play A7 on guitar?
A common shape is x02020 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with A7?
Good choices to solo over A7: A Mixolydian, A Lydian dominant, A Phrygian dominant.
What key is A7 in?
A7 is diatonic in D major (V7), B minor (♭VII7).