The A7 chord is a four-note dominant 7th chord that you’ll see frequently in piano music. This chord often acts as a “dominant” chord, meaning it wants to resolve to a D major chord.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and playing the A7 chord on the piano, with diagrams and examples to help you along the way.
Understanding the A7 chord
The A7 chord is made up of four notes: A, C♯, E, and G. These notes create the root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh intervals. Think of the A7 as an A major chord with an added minor 7th. You’ll usually see the A7 chord notated simply as “A7.”
Dominant 7th function
Dominant 7th chords are often built on the fifth note of a scale. In the key of D major, A7 is the dominant 7th chord.
Playing the A7 Chord
Here’s how to play the A7 chord, along with some tips to keep in mind.
Root Position and Fingerings
In its most basic form (root position), the A7 chord is played like this:
- A (left hand)
- C#, E, G (right hand)
When playing, use the fingerings that feel most natural to you. In general, you can use fingers 5, 3, 2, and 1 on your left hand for the root, and fingers 1, 2, 3, and 5 on your right hand for the remaining notes.
Building the A7 Chord
Start with the A major chord, which is A, C#, and E. Then, add a note that’s three half-steps above E — that gives you G, the minor seventh.
Make sure you name the notes correctly to keep the intervals correct. For example, use C# instead of D♭.
A7 chord inversions
You can play the same chord with different notes in the bass (lowest) position. This is called a chord inversion.
Inversions allow for smoother transitions between chords in progressions.
The three inversions of A7
Here are the three inversions of A7:
- First inversion: C♯ E G A (A7/C#). In this version, C♯ is the bass note.
- Second inversion: E G A C♯ (A7/E). In the second inversion, E is the bass note.
- Third inversion: G A C♯ E (A7/G). In this version, G is the bass note.
Practice each inversion until you’re familiar with it and your fingers can find the notes easily. Inversions are a great way to create interesting bass lines.
How to use the A7 chord
The A7 is a very common chord in many musical genres. It’s often used to create a sense of anticipation, as it naturally leads to a D major chord.
Another related chord you might want to explore is the A9, which adds a major ninth interval to the A7 sound.
To Conclude
The A7 chord, with its distinctive sound and useful inversions, is a valuable tool for any pianist.
Remember to practice your A7 chords and their inversions until you can play them comfortably. Then, explore chord progressions and music theory to take your piano playing to the next level.