E7 Chord on Guitar: The Easiest 7th Chord You

E7 is the easiest dominant 7th on guitar. Two fingers. All six strings ring. The chord that opens half the blues songs ever recorded. If you can play E major, you can play E7 with one finger fewer.

E7 is built from E, G sharp, B, and D. The D is the dominant 7th.

The Standard E7 Fingering

• 1st string (high E): open
• 2nd string (B): open
• 3rd string (G): 1st fret, index finger
• 4th string (D): open
• 5th string (A): 2nd fret, middle finger
• 6th string (low E): open

Strum all 6 strings. The notes from low to high are E, B, D, G sharp, B, E. The D on the open 4th string is the 7th.

How E7 Differs From E

The difference is the ring finger. In E major, you fret the 4th string (D) at the 2nd fret with your ring finger. In E7, you lift the ring finger off and let the open D ring. That open D is the dominant 7th, and it's the only thing separating the two chords.

This is why E7 is mechanically easier than E major. One fewer finger.

Songs That Use E7

• Blues in E. E7-A7-B7 is the canonical 12-bar in E.
• "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughan opens on E7.
• "Crossroads" by Robert Johnson and the Cream cover both lean on E7.
• Most early Hendrix. "Foxy Lady" and many others use E7 in the verse.

The Three-Finger E7 (Alternative)

Some teachers show a fuller E7 voicing that uses three fingers and adds the 7th higher up the neck.

• 1st string (high E): 3rd fret, ring finger
• 2nd string (B): open
• 3rd string (G): 1st fret, index finger
• 4th string (D): open
• 5th string (A): 2nd fret, middle finger
• 6th string (low E): open

This version adds a higher D at the 3rd fret of the 1st string. The chord rings fuller but the simple two-finger version sounds nearly identical in most playing contexts.

E7 Variations

• E9. Adds the 9th (F sharp). Funkier.
• E7#9. The "Hendrix chord." E7 with a sharp 9th on top. Used in "Purple Haze."
• E13. Full jazz extension.

The fretboard explorer shows alternative E7 voicings up the neck.

FAQ: E7 Chord Questions

Is E7 easier than E major?

Yes. E7 uses two fingers, E major uses three. Lift the ring finger off E major and you have E7.

What does the 7 mean in E7?

It means a dominant 7th has been added. Specifically the D natural (a flatted 7th). E with a major 7th would be Emaj7, which is a different chord.

Why does E7 sound bluesy?

The combination of a major 3rd (G sharp) and a flatted 7th (D natural) creates harmonic tension that sounds quintessentially bluesy. Most blues uses dominant 7ths on every chord, including the I.

What chord does E7 want to resolve to?

A. The D in E7 wants to fall to C sharp (the 3rd of A). The G sharp in E7 wants to rise to A (the root). E7 is the V7 of A major.

Can I use E7 in songs that aren't blues?

Yes. E7 appears in folk, country, soul, jazz, and rock. Anywhere you want a leaning, unresolved sound, the dominant 7th works.