G7 Chord

This page dives into the G7 dominant seventh chord for guitar - voicings, compatible scales and modes, plus where it grooves in iconic songs. G7 (G • B • D • F) delivers that classic bluesy tension begging to resolve to C.

Chord Voicings & Tablature

Common ways to play G7

Open Position (320001)

Classic Barre (353433)

Bluesy Rootless (xx3001)

Scales & Modes That Fit Perfectly

G7 is dominant, so mixolydian and blues scales reign supreme. Here are the go-to choices with easy open-position ascending tabs.

Major Family Modes

• G Mixolydian: F G A B C D E F (the classic dominant sound)
  

  e|-------------------------0-1-3-|
  B|---------------------1-3-------|
  G|---------------0-2-4-----------|
  D|-----------2-3-----------------|
  A|-----2-3-5---------------------|
  E|-3-5---------------------------|

• F Lydian: F G A B C D E F
  

  e|---------------------------0-1--|
  B|----------------------0-1-3-----|
  G|------------------0-2-----------|
  D|------------0-2-3---------------|
  A|------0-2-3---------------------|
  E|--1-3---------------------------|

Minor Family Modes

• E Phrygian: E F G A B C D E
  

  e|---------------------------0--|
  B|-----------------------0-1-3---|
  G|-------------------0-2---------|
  D|-------------0-2-3-------------|
  A|-------0-2-3-------------------|
  E|-0-1-3-------------------------|

Blues & Pentatonics

• G Blues Scale: G Bb C Db D F G
  

  e|-------------------------3-6-|
  B|---------------------3-6-----|
  G|---------------3-5-6---------|
  D|-----------3-5---------------|
  A|-----3-4-5-------------------|
  E|-3-6-------------------------|

• G Minor Pentatonic: G Bb C D F (core blues/rock over G7)
  

  e|--------------------3-6-|
  B|----------------3-6-----|
  G|------------3-5---------|
  D|--------3-5-------------|
  A|-----3-5----------------|
  E|-3-6--------------------|

• G Major Pentatonic (for mixolydian flavor): G A B D E
  

  e|-------------------0-3-|
  B|---------------0-3-----|
  G|-----------0-2---------|
  D|-------0-2-------------|
  A|---2-4------------------|
  E|-3---------------------|

G7 in Legendary Songs

The dominant crunch of G7 powers countless blues, rock, and jazz progressions:

• "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry – Classic 12-bar blues built on G7 turns.
• "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd – G7 in the turnaround and solos.
• "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens – Simple I-IV-V with punchy G7.
• "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley – Heavy G7 dominant feel in the riff.
• "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash – Train-like boom-chicka with G7 resolve.
• "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix – Slow blues in E uses G7 in the progression.