G7 chord (G dominant seventh) on bass
G7 (G dominant seventh) has four notes: G, B, D and F. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. In major keys, G7 is the V7 chord in C major.
How to play G7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | G7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | Gdom7 |
| Notes | G B D F |
| Formula | 1 3 5 b7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh |
| Type | Dominant seventh chord |
G7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 1 F (flat 7), fret 3 G (1), fret 7 B (3), fret 10 D (5), fret 13 F (flat 7), fret 15 G (1), fret 19 B (3), fret 22 D (5).
- A string: fret 2 B (3), fret 5 D (5), fret 8 F (flat 7), fret 10 G (1), fret 14 B (3), fret 17 D (5), fret 20 F (flat 7), fret 22 G (1).
- D string: fret 0 D (5), fret 3 F (flat 7), fret 5 G (1), fret 9 B (3), fret 12 D (5), fret 15 F (flat 7), fret 17 G (1), fret 21 B (3), fret 24 D (5).
- G string: fret 0 G (1), fret 4 B (3), fret 7 D (5), fret 10 F (flat 7), fret 12 G (1), fret 16 B (3), fret 19 D (5), fret 22 F (flat 7), fret 24 G (1).
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Questions
What notes are in the G7 chord?
G7 (G dominant seventh) has four notes: G, B, D and F. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. G is the root, B is the major third, D is the perfect fifth and F is the minor seventh.
How do you play G7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 10, root on the E string, fret 15. Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
What key is G7 in?
In major keys, G7 is the V7 chord in C major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between G7 and G?
G7 is G (G, B and D) with a flat 7th added: F.