G dominant 7th piano chord (G7)

Notes in G7: G, B, D and F

• Chord symbol: G7 — G dominant 7th
• Formula: R · 3 · 5 · b7 (0 · 4 · 7 · 10 semitones from the root)
• Right hand fingering: 1-2-3-5 — thumb, index, middle and little finger
• Left hand fingering: 5-3-2-1, little finger on the root

How G7 works

G7 is the first seventh chord almost everyone learns: the dominant of C major, and all white keys. The F wants to fall to E and the B wants to rise to C, which is exactly what happens when G7 resolves to C major — the clearest demonstration of voice leading on the instrument.

G7 inversions

An inversion keeps the same notes and changes which one is at the bottom. That matters because it lets you move between chords without jumping: the closer the notes of the next chord are to the ones your hand is already holding, the smoother it sounds and the easier it is to play. Root position first, then three inversions.

• Root position

  G–B–D–F — the root, G, is at the bottom.

  ▶ Play G–B–D–F↗ Arpeggio

• 1st inversion — B in the bass

  B–D–F–G — the same four notes, reordered so B is lowest.

  ▶ Play B–D–F–G↗ Arpeggio

• 2nd inversion — D in the bass

  D–F–G–B — the same four notes, reordered so D is lowest.

  ▶ Play D–F–G–B↗ Arpeggio

• 3rd inversion — F in the bass

  F–G–B–D — the same four notes, reordered so F is lowest.

  ▶ Play F–G–B–D↗ Arpeggio

Common mistakes on G7

• Playing F♯ from the G major scale; the seventh of G7 is F natural.
• Stretching for all four notes when three will do — beginners usually play G–B–F or B–D–F and add the fourth note later.
• Holding the chord with a rigid hand, so the resolution to C major becomes a jump instead of a step.