The G7 Chord On Guitar: Tips

This supposedly "easy" chord can be quite a challenge to do easily. It requires the first finger to be flexed back all the way to the 1st string, while the 3rd finger is stretched out to the 6th! This is not easy to do for most beginner fingers!


Here are some tips for doing this chord.
Keep in mind that the best thing for any guitar player is to develop the muscles and joints of the hand and fingers properly, then everything will get easier to play on the guitar. The best way to do that is to practice the "Foundation Exercises" from "The Principles Of Correct Practice For Guitar".

G7 Chord with 3 fingers Notice the extreme bend in the distal joints (tip joints) which allows for clearance of the adjacent strings.
G7 Chord with 2 fingers Here the 2nd finger is above the strings, we don't really need it for this chord.

First of all, realize that the position the hand needs to assume for this "simple" chord is quite demanding. The most important things are to have the hand and wrist out away from the neck, not hugging it, AND, the distal joints (the last joint of the finger). Those distal joints, especially on the 2nd finger must be VERY flexed, in fact, about a 90 degree angle for that 2nd finger.


Now, it does depend on the type of guitar neck you are playing on. I am doing it on a classical, so the neck is wide, and the distal joint must be very bent. Lack of bend in the distal joints is common, and is a basic flaw in "form" for many people.


Also, some good news. You don't HAVE to do that 2nd finger note on that chord, I usually don't. It is the "3rd" of the chord, harmonically speaking, and is already present in the open 2nd string, so playing it actually adds nothing to the chord (you only need one 3rd).

Of course, you will need the same finger ability for other things, so you should still pay attention to what I said, but if you need the chord for a gig this Saturday, I'd take the easy way out it I were you!