How to Play E7 Guitar Chords – Learn With Zager

The E7 chord is a four-note chord that consists of notes E, G#, B, and D. It is an alternative form of the E major chord with the addition of the 7th note in the E major chord scale, which is D. This chord is commonly used in blues, jazz and rock music as well as other genres.

When you play the E7 chord, you will notice that it has a rich, bluesy sound that adds tone and character to your music. The 7th chord gives off a tense sound that can create a feeling of resolution or anticipation in your music.

There are many ways to play the E7 chord on the guitar, and it’s part of using the guitar that you learn to experiment with different tonic chord shapes and techniques to create your own unique sound. 

Whether you’re just starting out or a professional guitarist, the E7 chord is an essential chord to have in your toolkit. So,let’s discover how many ways you can play the E7 chord and a lot of flavor and depth to your playing!

Different Ways to Play the E7 Chord on the Guitar

Standard E7 Chord

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Place your first finger on the first fret of the G string and position your second finger on the second fret of the A string. Now, Place your third finger on the first fret of the high E string and leave the strings of the D and low E strings open.

E7 Chord With a Low G

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Place your index finger on the first fret of the G string and your middle finger on the second fret of the A string, along with your ring finger on the third fret of the low E string. Leave the D and high E strings open.

E7 Chord With a High G

Place your index finger on the first fret of the G string and place your middle finger on the second fret of the A string. Now position your ring finger on the third fret of the high E string. At this point, leave the D string and the low E string left open.

How to Use the Dominant Chord

The E7 chord is a powerful tool that every guitarist should have a hold on! It can add a sense of tension and release plus create a driving rhythm and inject emotions into your playing.

Blues Progression

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If you’re into rock music, you’re more likely to use the E7 chord more frequently than you think. It’s a sample of a blues progression, and it can be used in combination with the A7 and B7 chords to create a classic I-IV-V blues progression. This is the backbone of many classic blues songs that have been used by various artists over the years.

Jazz Progression

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The E7 chord is a common chord that is used in jazz, where it creates a sense of tension and release within the jazz standards. It can be used as a dominant chord in it, and it has a slightly dissonant sound and creates a sense of anticipation that can make the resolution even more satisfying.

Rhythmic Progression

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If you’re looking for a funky and Rhythmic feel, then the E7 chord is an excellent choice. It is the seventh chord and a major scale that is often used in the funk music genre, which is used to create a rhythm that’s impossible not to move. With this, you can experiment with different strumming patterns to create your own unique sound.

Although the E7 chord is just one chord; there are many ways to use it in your music journey. The key is to experiment and find what sounds good to you. With a little practice, you will be able to use the E7 chord to create a wide range of sounds and emotions in your playing.

E7 Chord Guitar Shapes

E7 Chord On The Guitar (E Dominant 7) - Diagrams, Finger Positions and  Theory

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There are a few different E7 chord guitar shapes available that you can experiment in and find your groove as a beginner guitarist.

E7 Barre Chord

It is a favored shape that allows you to play the chord up and down the neck of the guitar. In order to play the E7 barre chords, you need to bar your index finger across all six strings at the seventh fret. Then place your third finger on the ninth fret of the A string and your pinky finger on the ninth fret of the D string. This will create an E7 chord with a full and rich sound.

E7 Open Chord

It is a simpler and easier version of the E7 barre chord, and it’s a great choice if you’re starting out on your guitar-strumming journey. 

In order to play the E7 chord open chord, place your one finger on the first fret of the G string and your second finger on the second fret of the A string. Now place you third finger on the first fret of the high E string. Leave the D and low E string open.

 It will produce a full, rich sound that’s perfect for a wide variety of musical styles, like a professional guitarist.

E7 Power Chord

It is played as a stripped-down version of the E7 guitar chord that’s often used in rock music. To play the E7 chord, position your index finger on the seventh fret of the A string and position your ring finger on the ninth fret of the D string. This will create a crunchy, powerful sound that is perfect for driving rhythm guitar parts and playing.

E7 Drop 2 Chord

The E7 drop two chords is a jazz chord shape that can add a lot of color to your music. To play the E7, drop two chords, start with the E7 barre chord shape, and then remove the root note from the G string of the seventh fret by lifting your first finger straight up. 

Then, move your third finger down to the 8th fret of the B string. This creates a sophisticated, jazzy sound that’s perfect for creating a sense of tension and release in your playability.

About Us

Zager Guitars is a family-owned third-generation guitar builder building guitars in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 1902. Zager is rated in the top 5% of all guitar brands and has been featured in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and a multitude of national and international news media. Zager also donates over $1M in guitars to children and public schools nationally, more than any other acoustic guitar maker.

To achieve the levels of playability that Zager guitars deliver, it requires a “precision build.” This means computer-controlled milling, laser-guided cutting, and robotic sanding and finish application. Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars uses the robotic building on their most expensive models because a computer build is always more precise than a hand build. 

Zager does one thing differently, though. Where Taylor keeps their machines in Mexico and the US, we keep ours in Indonesia, where wood and materials for guitar building are 50% lower in price. This way, you receive a guitar with the most cutting-edge technology available today for $3000 instead of $6000-$10,000.

Denny Zager Guitar Learning Lesson Guide

Look at the best guitar players in the world; you’ll notice they have one thing in common. They play guitar by ear. Since 1969 Denny Zager’s taught millions of people to play guitar using his internationally acclaimed “Play-By-Ear” guitar method that shows you how to tap into that part of your brain scientists, say we rarely use “Play-By-Ear” as the pros do. The Zager Guitar Lesson Library allows you to learn guitar using a revolutionary guitar chord show system one-on-one with an actual guitar master.

Denny adds new material to his library regularly, so there’s always something new and exciting to learn. For 2016 he’s expanding his library to over 150 hours of streaming lessons with over 10,000 Easy Play tabs and hundreds of his patented guitar and song arrangements making this the largest guitar lesson library in the world.

FAQs

What Is an E7 Chord?

The E7 chord is a four-note chord that consists of notes E, G#, B, and D. It is an alternative form of the E major chord with the addition of the 7th note in the E major chord scale, which is D. This chord is commonly used in blues, jazz and rock music as well as other genres.

Can I Play The E7 chord As a Beginner?

Yes, you can play the E7 chord as a beginner. There are different techniques and shapes that you can experiment with till you find your own unique sound!

How To Do An E7 Barre Chord On The Guitar?

In order to play the E7 barre chords, you need to bar your index finger across all six strings at the seventh fret and then place your third finger on the ninth fret of the A string and your pinky finger on the ninth fret of the D string. This will create an E7 chord with a full and rich sound.

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WRITTEN BY
Jolene
Jolene, a guitar enthusiast whose journey began by watching their uncle Dennis Jr. craft guitars. Growing up surrounded by the mesmerizing process of guitar creation, Jolene developed a profound appreciation for the artistry behind these instruments.

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