A dominant seventh chord (A7)
The A dominant seventh chord (A7) is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a minor seventh on top, A, C♯, E and G (root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the V7 in D major and the V7 in D minor, and it wants to resolve to D major, a perfect fourth higher.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play A dominant seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-0-2-0-2-0, open position, with A in the bass (fingers x-0-2-0-3-0).
- Voicing 2: 5-7-5-6-5-5, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 5, with A in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-12-14-12-14-12, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 12, with A in the bass.
Notes of the A dominant seventh chord on the fretboard
A dominant seventh has 4 notes: A, C♯, E and G. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E (0) · G (3) · A (5) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C♯ (4) · E (7) · G (10) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · G (5) · A (7) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): G (0) · A (2) · C♯ (6) · E (9) · G (12)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · E (5) · G (8) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · G (3) · A (5) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of A dominant seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-10.
- A: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- C♯: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above A
- E: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above A
- G: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above A
A dominant seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 0-1-0-0; it sounds G, C♯, E and A.
A dominant seventh on piano
- Keys: A4, C♯5, E5 and G5.
Inversions of A dominant seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: A, C♯, E and G, with A in the bass.
- First inversion (A7/C♯): C♯, E, G and A, with C♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (A7/E): E, G, A and C♯, with E in the bass.
- Third inversion (A7/G): G, A, C♯ and E, with G in the bass.
Keys that use A dominant seventh
A dominant seventh appears in 3 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| D major (2 sharps) | V7 | Dominant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | VII7 | Subtonic |
| D minor (harmonic minor, 1 flat) | V7 | Dominant |
Progressions with A dominant seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in D major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7
- 12-bar blues in D major (I7–IV7–V7): D7 – G7 – A7
- Minor cadence in D minor (i–iv–V7): Dm – Gm – A7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A dominant seventh chord?
A, C♯, E and G: root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7.
Which keys use A dominant seventh?
Mainly as the V7 in D major and the V7 in D minor. In total it appears in 3 major and minor keys.
What chord does A dominant seventh resolve to?
As a dominant seventh, A dominant seventh (A, C♯, E and G) resolves naturally to D major: its third rises a half step to the new tonic and its seventh falls to the third of the next chord.