You may have heard that ‘Grunge is dead,’ but grunge still lingers on millions of hearts with the iconic songs from the Grunge legend Nirvana or Thrash-Metal icon Metallica.
It is impossible to find a person who didn’t bang their heads with the iconic chord structures and husky voice of Kurt Cobain in the song ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’
So, what made the difference? I found out recently that these bands have always used the immersive effect of the G7 chord on a guitar in their music.
G7 guitar chord offers a diverse prospect for any guitarist. If you want to play Blues, Jazz, Progressive, or Grunge, then learning the G7 chord is a must.
What is the G7 Chord on guitar?
According to the sound it produces and the formation, the G7 guitar chord is much similar to the G major chord.
However, the seventh interval creates a more dynamic sound effect and produces an open-ended musical note. While the G guitar chord sounds like a definitive statement, the G7 chord enhances the feeling with the addition of the seventh note.
Be it ‘Born in the USA’ by Bruce Springsteen or ‘When You Say Nothing at All’ by Ronan Keating, this chord leaves a soothing and lingering effect on our ears.
Unlike its minor Gm7 namesake, the G dominant seventh chord is a comforting chord.
What Notes Do You Need to Play the G7 chord?
So, how do we actually play the chord? The G7 chord will not seem alien to you if you’ve ever played the G major guitar chord.
Like the G Major chord, the G7 chord comprises G, B, and D notes, with an additional seventh interval – the F note.
How to play the G7 on Guitar?
There are a few different ways to play the G7 chord, unlike the G major chord. We are going to talk about the two easy versions here – G7 guitar chord in 4th Position and G7 guitar chord in open Position.
Most beginners or intermediate guitarists struggle with barring a chord properly while playing a particular note or chord.
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about barring a chord from playing these versions, making the G7 chord easier to play.
G7 Guitar Chord in Open Position
This is the easiest finger position to play the G7 chord on the guitar.
You can start by placing your 3rd finger (ring finger) on the 3rd fret of the first string (Low E string). Leave the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings (Chronologically B, G, and D) open.
Now complete the chord by placing your index finger or 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 1st (High E string) string.
Strum all the six strings from low to high E string. If you are struggling to figure out the finger movements, ask your guitar instructor to help you.
Highlights
- Index Finger: 1st fret of the high E string (1st string)
- Middle Finger: 2nd fret of the A string (5th string)
- Ring Finger: 3rd fret of the high E string (6th string)
G7 Guitar Chord in 4th Position
I think playing the G7 chord in the 4th Position is much easier than playing the G7 chord in the open Position. To play this chord formation properly, place your middle finger (2nd finger) on the 5th fret of the D string (4th string).
Now, place your first finger (index finger) on the 4th fret of the 3rd string (G string), and finally, place your 4th finger (pinky finger) on the 6th fret of the B string (2nd string).
Leave the high E string (1st string) open, and strum three strings from D (4th string) to B string (2nd string) downwards.
Highlights
- Index Finger: 4th fret on 3rd string (G string)
- Middle Finger: 5th fret of the 4th string (D string)
- Pinky Finger: 6th fret of the 2nd string (B string)
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Other Methods of Playing G7 on Guitar
One Finger G7 Guitar Chord
- Place your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 1st string (High E string)
- 5th and 6th strings will be of no use here
- Strum from the 4th string (D string) downwards
E7 Barre Shape G7 Guitar Chord
The core structure of this chord is based on an E7 barre chord.
- Barre the 3rd fret from 1st to 6th string (Low E string) with your 1st finger (index finger)
- Keep your 3rd finger (ring finger) on the 5th fret of the 1st string (High E string)
- Place your 2nd finger (middle finger) on the 4th fret of the 3rd string (G string)
- Strum all the strings downwards from low E string to high E string
G7 Guitar Chord (E7 Shape: 3 Finger)
As you can guess by the name, this chord formation is also based on the E7 chord. If you find the previous one difficult, you can try this one.
- Place your index finger (1st finger) on the 3rd fret of the 6th string (low E string)
- Move your middle finger (2nd finger) to the 3rd fret of the 4th string (D string)
- Place your ring finger (3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string (G string)
This particular chord formation is heavily used in Blues and Jazz music. Always look out for the voicing of the chord, because it sets the mood for a particular piece.
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FAQs
1. What is G7 (G seventh) on guitar?
The G7 chord is composed of the same three chords that make up the G major chord (G, B, and D), plus the addition of a seventh interval – the F note. When strumming a G7 chord, listen for these four blended notes to form the full chord: G, B, D, and F.
2. How do you play G7 on Guitar?
The G7 chord is played in various methods depending on the voicing. The easiest methods to play the G seventh are the G7 guitar chord in the open Position and G7 guitar chord in the 4th Position.
Other finger placements depend on the voicing of the chord. The methods are one finger G7 chord, E7 Barre shape G7 Chord, G seventh chord with C7, and E shape 3 Finger G7 guitar chord.
3. Is it possible to play the G seventh chord on guitar without a capo?
Yes, it is possible to play the G7 guitar chord without a capo. However, this chord would be much harder for beginners to play without a capo. You need to barre the 3rd fret and play the G7 guitar chord in E7 barre style with dominant 7th.
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Conclusion
Every single chord opens up new possibilities for your guitar music.
The G7 guitar chord (specifically all the seventh chords, like C7 chord, E7 chord, D7 chord, and B7 chord) might seem a bit tough for beginners, but if you practice dedicatedly, you will master it in no time.
Other than becoming a future rock star, guitar opens up numerous benefits for the player.
If you are a beginner, I would suggest you to go for a good online guitar teacher.
Check out the excellent guitar classes at EnthuZiastic.
The G7 guitar chord will allow you to play Blues, Jazz, and especially Country music. So, what are you waiting for!
Sit for practice right now and master the chord to flaunt your guitar skills in front of your friends!
