E Dominant 7th
E7
Notes
E · G♯ · B · D
Intervals
- RootE (1P)
- Major 3rdG♯ (3M)
- Perfect 5thB (5P)
- Minor 7thD (7m)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Drop-2 voicings (12)
Drop-3 voicings (8)
Shell voicings (2)
About
The E7 dominant seventh (E–G♯–B–D) is the primary tension-bearing chord in tonal harmony. Its pull toward resolution comes from the tritone between G♯ and D — these two notes want to resolve inward, landing in the V–I cadence on A. The 3rd and ♭7 are essential: they form the tritone, and they distinguish a dominant 7 from a Em7. The fifth can be freely omitted without weakening the harmonic function. On guitar, shell voicings (1–3–♭7) are common in jazz; full voicings appear in blues and rhythm playing. Compared to EMaj7, dominant 7 is harmonically active and directional — it is a chord that moves.
Chord diagrams
E Dominant 7th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- E Mixolydian (I)
- A Harmonic Minor (V)
- A Major (V)
- A Melodic Minor (V)
- A♭ Diminished (deg 6)
- A♭ Locrian (VI)
- B Diminished (deg 4)
- B Dorian (IV)
- B Melodic Minor (IV)
- D Diminished (deg 2)
- D Lydian (II)
- D♭ Phrygian (III)
- F Diminished (deg 8)
- F♯ Natural Minor (VII)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.