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A Dominant 7th Chord
The A Dominant 7th Chord is A, C-sharp, E, and G, with only the second note on a black key. The chord pulls strongly toward D, and it's worth listening for the G on top, since it's the note that creates that pull.
How to play the A Dominant 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the A Dominant 7th Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The A Dominant 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the A dominant 7th chord are stacked in thirds with A on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| A Dominant 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A C♯ E G |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A7 |
The A Dominant 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (C♯) becomes the bottom note, and the root (A) jumps up to the top.
| A Dominant 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C♯ E G A |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A6/5 or A7/C♯ |
The A Dominant 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (E) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (C♯) goes to the top.
| A Dominant 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E G A C♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A4/3 or A7/E |
The A Dominant 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (G) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (E) goes to the top.
| A Dominant 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | G A C♯ E |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A4/2 or A7/G |
A Dominant 7th Chord theory and function
The dominant 7th is the chord that most wants to resolve. Its third and seventh form a tritone, and each of those notes pulls by step: the third up, the seventh down. That pull is what makes V7 lead so firmly to I.
The A dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in D major. In minor keys, it is the dominant (V7) in D minor.
The resolution is A7 – D: C♯ steps up to D and G steps down to F♯. At a cadence, V7 – I is the sound of a phrase ending. When a dominant 7th chord turns up in a key where it isn’t the V7 (the chord built on the fifth scale degree), it is almost always pointing at the chord a fourth above it. Try playing A7 and then D and listen for those two half steps.
Other chords built on A
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