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E Dominant 7th Chord
The E Dominant 7th Chord is E, G-sharp, B, and D. Only the second note is a black key, so the second finger reaches in while the others stay on white keys. The chord pulls strongly toward A, and it's worth listening for the D on top, since it's the note that creates that pull.
How to play the E Dominant 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the E 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 E Dominant 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the E dominant 7th chord are stacked in thirds with E on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| E Dominant 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E G♯ B D |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | E7 |
The E Dominant 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (G♯) becomes the bottom note, and the root (E) jumps up to the top.
| E Dominant 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | G♯ B D E |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | E6/5 or E7/G♯ |
The E Dominant 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (B) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (G♯) goes to the top.
| E Dominant 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | B D E G♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | E4/3 or E7/B |
The E Dominant 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (D) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (B) goes to the top.
| E Dominant 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D E G♯ B |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | E4/2 or E7/D |
E 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 E dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in A major. In minor keys, it is the dominant (V7) in A minor.
The resolution is E7 – A: G♯ steps up to A and D steps down to C♯. 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 E7 and then A and listen for those two half steps.
Other chords built on E
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