A7 guitar chord
The A dominant 7th chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in A7
- Notes
- A – C# – E – G
- Formula
- 1 – 3 – 5 – b7
- Name
- A dominant 7th
A7A · C# · E · G
5 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Open
- G shape · 2nd fret
- E shape · 5th fret
- D shape · 7th fret
- C shape · 10th fret
What to play over A7
Start with the chord's own notes — A, C#, E, G — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- A Mixolydian mode
The dominant chord’s own scale: its four notes plus the 2, 4 and 6.
- A major pentatonic scale
Five notes that sit right on top of the chord.
- A blues scale
For blues: the ♭3 rubbing against the chord’s 3 is the whole point.
- A Phrygian dominant scale
When the chord resolves to a minor chord a fourth up (V7 to i): the ♭9 and ♭13 pull hard.
Questions
What notes are in a A7 chord?
A7 has 4 notes: A, C#, E, G. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – b7.
What scale goes with A7?
A Mixolydian mode is the place to start. The dominant chord’s own scale: its four notes plus the 2, 4 and 6.