A few short years later, the Beatles put their own distinctly British stamp on rock nâ roll, weaving the A7 into âI Saw Her Standing There.â. Want to learn how to play the guitar? Letâs learn how to play this versatile chord. The A7 guitar chord, is exactly the same as a regular A chord. ), Barre your first finger over the 2nd fret of the D (4th string), G (3rd string), B (2nd string) and E string. Arguably, the A7 chord is one of the most essential you'll be learning on the guitar. A7, in particular, plays a role in swing classics like "Fly Me to the Moon" and "All of Me," so it's a great starting point if you intend on learning the standards. (4th string. To refresh your memory, A7 consists of the following notes: A, C#, E, and G. In its most basic form (on the guitar, at least) A7 is a pretty easy chord to play. 3 MONTHS OF FREE ONLINE LESSONS.LEARN MORE. Then, place your third (ring) finger on the second fret of the B string. ), Place your 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the D string. ), Place your 3rd finger on the 6th fret of the G string. Place your 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the A string. Notice how the shape of the D7 chord is still being used within this guitar chord. Another version of the A7 chord is a bit more difficult to play. © National Guitar Academy Ltd | All Rights Reserved, How To Read Guitar Chordboxes In 60 Seconds, 3 Easy Ways To Play The A Chord On Guitar, 4 Easy Ways To Play The E Chord On Guitar, Guitar Notes Explained: A Guide For Beginners, 3 Easy Ways To Play The D Guitar Chord On Guitar, CAGED Guitar System: How To Master Chords. This chord is perfect! Listen for it in different songs and start playing them. To learn this chord, go here:4 Easy Ways To Play The E Chord On Guitar. ✓ Learn 12 beginner-friendly versions of every chord. The A7 chord is a mainstay for blues legend, John Lee Hooker and can be heard in at least two of his most famous tracks, "Blues Before Sunrise"and "Boom Boom". This chord can be tricky as you can only strum the top 4 strings. ), Place your 1st finger on the 5th fret of the low E string. That note is a ‘G’. Learn two ways to play the A7 chord. Here’s an A7 guitar chord. Want to learn the A7 guitar chord? Then strum it in countless songs. All Rights Reserved. Listen for the A7 in husband-and-wife duo Roy Rogers and Dale Evanâs âHappy Trails,â which closed out the pairâs radio and television show. Dominant 7th chords factor into many styles -- from jazz to blues and even good old-fashioned rock and roll. The first form of the A7 chord has you place your second (middle) finger on the second fret of your D string. This chord shape requires you to use ‘barring technique’. The guitar chord A7 – A seventh – in different positions along the guitar fretboard. (4th string. The simplest version of A7 is also the first version most players learn. This chord is part of the CAGED guitar system. This first chord, A7, must have the notes A C# E and G. As long as a chord has those notes (in any order) it will be called an A7. You can take lessons locally or online. 6 essential ways to play the A7 guitar chord. Copyright ©2020. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Play on. A7 Guitar Chord #2 (Full) If you'd like a "fuller" sounding chord that incorporates all the guitar's strings, you can try this trickier variant that involves a fair bit of stretching: Use your 1st finger to cover strings 2, 3, and 4 at the 2nd fret Place your 2nd finger on the 1st string/3rd fret (5th string. American rock forefathers like Holly and leaders of the British Invasion like the Beatles knew the power of the A7 chord - and so did the King of Rock nâ Roll, Elvis Presley. This technique can be difficult for beginners. The 7th chord, also known as the Dominant 7th is so-called because it is formed from the 5th degree (or Dominant) of the scale. Place your 1st finger on the 5th fret of the low E string. This chord is perfect for funk and soul styles and will poke through the mix in a band context. It has a tight bottom end, and is perfect roots and blues music. From kings to queens, Diana Ross and the Supremes intoned the A7 chord on their signature song, âBaby Love.â. In a similar Motown vein, you can hear the A7 in Martha Reeves & the Vandellas 1964 hit, âDancing in the Streets.â The upbeat song became a civil rights anthem and was later covered by the Mamas & the Papas, the Grateful Dead, and as a duet with Mick Jagger and David Bowie. In this version, you play just three strings down from the D string). Strum five strings down from the A string. The A7 chordâs mix of optimism and wistfulness can be heard in a number of similarly-themed country songs. The no1 secret to mastering guitar chords quickly. If you want to add a bit of grit to your guitar playing, this chord is a great choice. Another well-known British band, the Police (fronted by Sting before he became a solo artist) wove the A7 chord into their 1983 hit, âEvery Breath You Take.â You can hear it kick in on the songâs bridge. This chord can be heard in songs in a multitude of genres, providing an unexpected shift in a songâs sound and adding some punch - no matter whether itâs played on the lower or higher register. This A7 guitar chord is based on a regular open D7 chord. Over 100,000 guitar-learners get our world-class guitar tips & tutorials sent straight to their inbox: Click here to join them. Want to see the instructors near you? To learn more about the CAGED system, go here:CAGED Guitar System: How To Master Chords. Barre your first finger across ALL the strings on the 5th fret. The A7 chord doesnât sound quite as cheerful as a major chord, but doesnât sound nearly as mopey as a minor chord. Merle Haggardâs grizzled ode to disappointing your parents, âMama Triedâ also works in an A7 chord, as does Patsy Clineâs dreamy âWalkinâ After Midnight.â. (6th string.) The religious hymn was written in 1779 and has been covered by a diverse array of artists through the years, including Johnny Cash, John Legend, Willie Nelson and Aretha Franklin. A7 Guitar Chord (3 Finger Chord) If you want to add a bit of grit to your guitar playing, this chord is a great choice. The first form of the A7 chord has you place your second (middle) finger on the second fret of your D string, In this version, you play just three strings down from the D string), browse Fender Play's chord library, learn about chord types, and find tips on how to master them, - Index finger: 2nd fret of the D (4th) string, - Middle finger: 2nd fret of the B (2nd) string, - Index finger: 6th fret of the G (3rd) string, - Middle finger: 7th fret of the D (4th) string, - Pinky finger: 8th fret of the B (2nd) string. Presleyâs pop hits, âHeartbreak Hotelâ and âThatâs All Rightâ both featured the chord. Fender PlayPlay free. One of the most iconic folk songs of all time, âAmazing Grace,â includes an ethereal A7 in its composition. (If you don't understand the above image please read our article "How To Read Guitar Chordboxes In 60 Seconds". Learn 20 different voicings of the A7 chord on guitar with printable chord … Place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the D string. Let’s learn some more voicings of this chord. Go here: 3 Easy Ways To Play The A Chord On Guitar. The A7 can also be heard in other iconic blues songs, like Freddie Kingâs âIâm Tore Down,â and B.B. Also played in Standard E tuning, this form of the A7 shifts position and has you place your first finger across the 6th fret and position your middle and pinky fingers on the 7th and 8th frets, respectively. ), Place your 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the D string. ✓ This is our most popular guide and it will improve your chord ability quickly. Good luck, and as always, happy practicing! It will make everything clear!). There are a few different ways to play the A7 chord and - spoiler alert - they are fairly easy, even for beginner guitarists. The chord fires a powerful shot and provides tension throughout Stevie Ray Vaughanâs angsty âCrossfire.â. The first form of the A7 chord has you place your second (middle) finger on the second fret of your D string. This chord is very similar to a standard A major chord. This works because the ‘D7 shape’ is a moveable shape. (E7 barre shape): Notice how the shape of the ‘E7 guitar chord’ fits within this barre chord. Known as the A Dominant Seventh or A dominant, Adom7 chord. (1st string. Not only is the one of the most popular ways to play a A7 guitar chord. To learn more about guitar notes and theory, go here: Guitar Notes Explained: A Guide For Beginners. Be the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. Both make use of standard E tuning and are easy for beginners to master. Kingâs lesson in living your art, "Why I Sing the Blues". Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/2nd fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string/2nd fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string/3rd fret, Use your 1st finger to cover strings 2, 3, and 4 at the 2nd fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 1st string/3rd fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string/4th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 6th string/5th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 2nd string/2nd fret, Place your 4th finger on the 4th string/5th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/4th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 6th string/5th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string/5th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/5th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 1st string/3rd fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/5th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/5th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 3rd string/6th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/7th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string/8th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/9th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 1st string/9th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 2nd string/10th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/11th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string/12th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 3rd string/12th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/11th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 5th string/12th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/12th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/14th fret, Use your 1st finger to bar the strings at the 5th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/6th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string/7th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/8th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 6th string/5th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/5th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 3rd string/6th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/7th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/8th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 2nd string/8th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/9th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 4th string/11th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 1st string/12th fret, Place your 1st finger on the 3rd string/12th fret, Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/14th fret, Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/14th fret, Place your 4th finger on the 1st string/15th fret. The added 7th note gives any song you’re playing or writing a bit of a longing feeling. ). If you'd like a "fuller" sounding chord that incorporates all the guitar's strings, you can try this trickier variant that involves a fair bit of stretching: If you can manage a bit of stretch, but don't feel like pressing down on so many strings, you can instead try this version of the chord, which provides a lighter sound: Rounding out the variations of A7 near the head of the guitar is this play on the so-called "D7 chord shape," adapted appropriately: That "D7 shape," the very similar "C7 shape" (and a few inversions of both) are featured in several other variations of the A7 chord as you progress up the fretboard, like here: Of course, no compilation of A7 chord voicings would be complete without mentioning the go-to A7 barre chord: And the non-barre version of A7 that also centers around the 5th fret: Finally, if you're looking to learn a few "fancy" voicings for the A7 chord, you'll have ample opportunity to do so up and down the fretboard, starting around the 3rd fret: While it's true that some of these chord voicings, like your higher-fret variations, will only come into play during very specific circumstances (when you're playing licks up high and need to get to your chord quickly, for instance), learning as many versions of A7 as you can will only serve to make you a more well-rounded player. Listen for it in classic favorites or more modern melodies: The A7 chord can be heard in "Peggy Sueâ by Buddy Holly, one of the Founding Fathers of rockabilly and rock nâ roll. Intervals in the A7 chord: 1, 3, 5, b7. If you’re new to barre chords, but want to practice your finger technique. The CAGED guitar system is a group of guitar chord shapes which can be moved around the fret board to create chords in new keys. Strum three strings down from the D string. This makes for a higher-sounding chord since itâs played further down the fretboard. The A7 chord for guitar is a great tool to add a little bit of a more interesting sound to the standard A chord. No matter what version of the A7 chord you choose to play, the more you practice, the more naturally it will come to you. Go from knowing nothing about the guitar and learn to play songs everbody loves with this free course. 3 essential tips for clean & easy barre chords. The one shown below has the notes A E G C# E but other ways of playing A7 will have the notes in a different order and it makes no difference, the one using the 1st finger barre has the notes A E A C# G. If you already know a standard A major chord, just remove your 2nd finger from the chord. (Bonus video & tips!). Here are 3 quick & easy tips which will help you master barring technique. So in D major, the dominant 7th chord A7 resolves to D major A7 In the guitar world, we refer to this as the ‘E7 barre shape’ because it is based on a open E7 chord. To learn this chord, go here:3 Easy Ways To Play The D Guitar Chord On Guitar. There are two different ways to play the A7 chord. Both make use of standard E tuning and are easy for beginners to master. Take your time in committing each of these chord voicings to memory, and work on switching between different variations of A7 and from different chord to A7 so that you can work these into your playing naturally. Chord chart diagrams for the A7 chord in Standard tuning. If you want to stay in the same location but double up on the "G" for A7, you can try this version instead: Now, you might have noticed that both of the previous variations of A7 omit string 6 for notes. The A seventh chord – A7. Show All A Chords Hide Chord List A major A minor A 7 A m7 A maj7 A m#7 (mM7) A 7b5 A 7#5 A m7b5 A 7b9 A b5 A 5 Power Chord A 6 A m6 A 69 A 9 A 9b5 A 9x5 A m9 A maj9 A add9 A 7#9 A 11 A m11 A 13 A maj13 A sus2 A sus4 A7 sus4 A9 sus4 A dim A half dim A dim7 A aug A/C# A/E A/G# A/G A/B A7 chord – 12th position. Don’t know the A chord? (2nd string.). Then, place your third (ring) finger on the second fret of the B string.