The E7 (E dominant 7) chord contains the notes E, G#, B and D. It is produced by taking the root (1), 3, 5 and b7 of the E Major scale. It is essentially an E chord, with an added flat 7.
The E7 chord is quite an iconic guitar chord. Played as an open chord (first shape) or as a bar chord, it is used prolifically by guitarists. The lowest string on the guitar is an E string, so many E chords (such as E7) feel like a kind of ‘home’ chord on the guitar.
E7 is short for E dominant 7. The dominant 7 chord is a significant chord, because it plays a very important function in any given key.
The dominant 7 chord functions as a chord that resolves to the first chord in a key. For example, the E dominant 7 chord resolves to the A Major chord (which is the first chord in the key of A)
10 Ways To Play The E7 Chord
If you’ve come to this page just to view some chord diagrams for E7, here they are.
Some Quick E7 Chord Theory
- The E7 chord contains the notes E, G#, B and D.
- E7 is short for E dominant 7.
- The E7 chord is produced by taking the 1 (root), 3, 5 and b7 of the E Major scale.
- The E7 is the fifth chord in the key of A. It resolves naturally to the A Major chord.
- The E7 chord (just like all dominant 7 chords) contains the following intervals (starting from the root note): major 3rd, minor 3rd, minor 3rd, tone (which leads back to the root note).
- The E mixolydian mode can be used when soloing over the E dominant 7 chord.