How to Play the G7 chord on the Guitar

Meet the G7 chord

    Sometimes, in guitar songs that use relatively easy chords (usually in the key of C major), you come across a G7 chord (short for G seventh). That creates a challenge for many guitarists because the G7 chord is a bit difficult to execute on guitar, especially for beginners.


    We'll begin with a standard version of the G seventh chord that is often the recommended choice for most guitarists. You can also scroll below for an easy way to play G7 major, as well as a moveable 6-string barre version.

How to play the G7 chord on the guitar


    The tricky part is stretching between the second and first fingers. This is a longer distance than you may be used to, and it requires a bit of extra finger strength. But with a little patience, you can master it.


    Also, be careful not to touch the D string with the soft part of your 2nd finger. Fretting the notes using the very tips of your fingers and pushing your hand position a bit forward (away from your body) will help you with this.

G7 barre chord - moveable

    A note on "bar chords": The traditional spelling is "barre", but many times you will see it spelled as "bar". So a "G7 bar chord" and a "G7 barre chord" are actually the same thing. Don't let that throw you off 😉.


    This is a barre chord that requires you to fret all 6 strings with the first finger. This makes the G7 barre chord a little tricky, but with a little patience, you can master it.


    Here are a few tips to help you master this tricky fingering faster:

  • In the beginning, form the fingering shape slowly. Speed will come later.
  • Decide on the order with which you will place your fingers. For example, you can always start with fingers 3-4, then 2, and then place the 1st finger to form the barre. You could also start with the barre instead.
  • Be consistent with the decided order. After you build muscle memory, forming the chord will happen automatically and almost instantly. But the muscle memory-building process will take a lot longer if you do this differently every time.
  • Place your 1st finger very close to the metal fret. This makes it easier to execute without buzzing. But don't play completely over the fret wire because that will produce a muted sound.

    To use moveable chords effectively, you need to locate the notes on the fretboard really fast. I highly recommend that you get Fretboard Memorization Toolbox. It's a free mini-course that includes fun drills and musical challenges that will help you master the fretboard very quickly.


The easiest G7 chord voicing

    Guitar players love shortcuts. A shortcut for easily playing a G7 chord on the guitar is to use the minimal voicing in the diagram below.


    But if you are playing on your own, keep in mind that this fingering produces a thinner chord. In some songs that can be a problem. But it will still sound great in most cases and it includes almost all of the chord degrees (it's missing the less important 5th degree). Plus it's extremely easy to play on the guitar!


Related Courses


Fretboard Memorization Toolbox


Learn the Fretboard in 7 easy steps using fun drills and musical challenges.



Barre Chord Workshop


Upgrade your chord vocabulary with many different barre chord types and voicings.



Drop 2 Workshop


Explore the World of Seventh Chords with this step by step method.


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