E7 Guitar Chord

E7 is a dominant 7th chord made of E · G♯ · B · D. Major triad + minor 7th — tension that wants to resolve to the next chord. The standard shape is an open chord: 020100 (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Open chord · 020100

Fret 2 · root on 4th string · xx2434

Fret 7 barre · root on 5th string · x79797 · from fret 7

Index finger on string 3 (G), fret 1.
Middle finger on string 5 (A), fret 2.
Let strings 6, 4, 2, 1 ring open.
Strum down from string 6.

E7 guitar chord chart — open chord 020100 and 2 more shapes — All E7 shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

E
rootG♯
3rdB
5thD
7th

Play it easier with a capo

Capo on fret 2 + D7 shape → sounds as E7
Capo on fret 4 + C7 shape → sounds as E7
Capo on fret 5 + B7 shape → sounds as E7
Capo on fret 7 + A7 shape → sounds as E7

If barre chords are hard, clamp a capo and play an open shape — it sounds exactly the same. The Buskermate app can move a whole chord sheet to any capo position for you.

Try it: capo on

Scales that fit

Other E chords

E Em E7 Emaj7 Em7 E6 Em6 Esus4 Esus2 E7sus4 Edim Edim7 Em7b5 Eaug Eadd9 E9 Em9 Emaj9

Dominant 7th chords in other keys

C7 C♯7 D7 E♭7 E7 F7 F♯7 G7 A♭7 A7 B♭7 B7

FAQ

What notes are in the E7 chord?

The E7 chord is made of E, G♯, B, D. Major triad + minor 7th — tension that wants to resolve to the next chord.

What's the easiest way to play E7 on guitar?

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is 020100 (an open chord). If the barre is hard, put a capo on fret 2 and play a D7 shape — it sounds the same.

Which scale works for soloing over E7?

E mixolydian or E blues fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).