Seventh chords add richness and color beyond basic major and minor triads. Whether you’re playing blues, jazz, pop, or country, 7th chords are essential to creating more sophisticated harmony. This guide covers every type of 7th chord with shapes for guitar and piano.
What Are 7th Chords?
A 7th chord is a triad (three notes) with an added 7th interval on top. There are four main types:
Dominant 7th (e.g., G7): Major triad + minor 7th. The most common type. Creates tension that wants to resolve.
Major 7th (e.g., Gmaj7): Major triad + major 7th. Sounds dreamy and jazzy.
Minor 7th (e.g., Gm7): Minor triad + minor 7th. Sounds smooth and mellow.
Diminished 7th (e.g., Gdim7): Diminished triad + diminished 7th. Sounds tense and dramatic.
Dominant 7th Chords
The “default” 7th chord. When you see just “G7” or “A7” with no prefix, it means dominant 7th.
Guitar Shapes
A7: Open A chord but lift your ring finger off the 2nd string. X02020.
B7: Index on 1st fret (4th string), middle on 2nd fret (5th string), ring on 2nd fret (3rd string), pinky on 2nd fret (1st string). X21202.
C7: Standard C chord plus pinky on 3rd fret, 3rd string. X32310.
D7: Open D shape but lift your ring finger. XX0212.
E7: Open E chord but lift your ring finger off the 4th string. 020100.
G7: Standard G but add pinky on 1st fret, 1st string. 320001.
Piano Shapes
The formula is simple: play a major triad and add the note one whole step below the octave.
C7: C – E – G – Bb
D7: D – F# – A – C
E7: E – G# – B – D
F7: F – A – C – Eb
G7: G – B – D – F
A7: A – C# – E – G
Major 7th Chords
Written as “maj7” or with a triangle symbol. These have a lush, sophisticated sound.
Guitar Shapes
Cmaj7: Open C chord but open the 1st string (don’t fret it). X32000.
Dmaj7: XX0222. Similar to D but different 1st string.
Fmaj7: Standard F barre but lift your pinky. XX3210.
Gmaj7: Standard G chord but fret the 1st string at 2nd fret instead of 3rd. 320002.
Amaj7: Open A with index on 1st fret, 3rd string. X02120.
Piano Shapes
Major triad + the note one half step below the octave.
Cmaj7: C – E – G – B
Dmaj7: D – F# – A – C#
Fmaj7: F – A – C – E
Gmaj7: G – B – D – F#
Minor 7th Chords
Written as “m7” or “min7.” The smoothest, most mellow-sounding 7th chord.
Guitar Shapes
Am7: Open Am but lift your ring finger. X02010.
Bm7: X20202. A common jazz shape.
Dm7: XX0211. Open D minor with open 1st string.
Em7: Open Em but lift your index finger. 020000. The easiest chord on guitar.
Piano Shapes
Minor triad + minor 7th interval.
Am7: A – C – E – G
Dm7: D – F – A – C
Em7: E – G – B – D
When to Use 7th Chords
Blues
The 12-bar blues uses dominant 7ths exclusively: A7 – D7 – E7. This is the defining sound of blues music.
Jazz
Jazz rarely uses plain triads. Almost every chord in jazz is a 7th (or extended — 9th, 11th, 13th). The ii-V-I progression (Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7) is the most important jazz progression.
Pop and Rock
Dominant 7ths add tension before a resolution: use G7 before resolving to C. Major 7ths add a dreamy quality — think Fmaj7 in “Something” by The Beatles.
Country
Dominant 7ths are everywhere in country. The classic I-IV-V country progression often uses 7ths: G – C – D7 – G.
Songs That Use 7th Chords
– Pride and Joy (Stevie Ray Vaughan) — E7, A7, B7 blues
– Fly Me to the Moon — Am7, Dm7, G7, Cmaj7 jazz standard
– Something (Beatles) — Cmaj7, Fmaj7 in the verse
– Folsom Prison Blues — E, A7, B7 country classic
– Ain’t No Sunshine — Am7 based groove
– Autumn Leaves — The ultimate 7th chord workout