The G7 ukulele chord is one of Western pop music’s more common 7th chords. So, if you’re into this type of genre, let us show you how to play this properly.
Written by Jay Searle / Published December 22, 2023
Last updated: April 10, 2024
The G7 uke chord is among the most popular versions of the standard G chord, replacing the second (high) G note with an F, enriching its tonal diversity without changing its character much. It’s comprised of the notes G, B, F, and D and requires only three fingers to play, although more experienced players can form a bar chord over the second fret and only use two fingers.
Both beginners and seasoned uke players love to use it while jamming or improvising because it allows for easy transitions into other simple chords like F or A Minor.
Since it’s commonly used in a variety of rock, pop, and jazz songs, the G7 ukulele chord is worth learning how to play, and we’re here to help you understand the nuances regarding finger positioning, G7 chord variations, and applications.
Table of Contents
What Is the G7 Ukulele Chord?
The G7 ukulele chord is a remarkably flexible one due to its “major-minor” nature. Unlike chords that are easy to define as “joyous,” “gloomy,” or “groovy,” G7 doesn’t have a predetermined character, which is largely influenced by the notes and melodies played over it as well as the other chords in the progression.
In terms of finger positioning, the flexibility to transition to popular uke chords, pull simple arpeggiated licks, or simply hold the chord during bridge parts makes the G7 remarkably versatile.
How To Play the G7 Ukulele Chord – Step-by-Step Guide
Even though the G7 chord is a relatively simple one, it’s not the easiest chord in the book, so we’ve prepared a detailed guide to help beginners and first-time uke players grasp it in just a few minutes. Just take your time and follow the steps below:
Step 1: Place the Index Finger on Note F
- Index finger on F
The simplest way to ensure your fingers don’t get in each other’s way while fretting the G7 chord is to start by pressing the note F, or the first position on the E string, first. This way, you’re leaving the path to notes B and D open, as well as allowing yourself the flexibility to decide whether to put a bar chord over them or press them with your ring and middle fingers.
Step 2: Place the Ring Finger on Note B
2. Ring finger on B
Experienced players usually fret notes B and D simultaneously when playing the G7 uke chord, but if you’re doing it for the first time, start from the top by pressing the note B – or the second position on the A string with your ring finger. It’s easier to reach than note D below, and pressing it first will allow you to focus on finding the right angle afterward.
Step 3: Place the Middle Finger on Note D
New ukulele players usually find it difficult to fret chords that feature two or more notes that are supposed to be played in the same fret position. The G7 ukulele chord is a schoolbook example of that, as we have two notes in the second position of strings C and A.
If you followed our guide and have already fretted the note B with your ring finger, use your middle finger to press note D.
Step 4: Leave the G String Open and Strum
4. Leave the G string open
The G7 chord becomes complete when its root note is included in the mix, the open G note on the G string. Since you don’t have to press any frets in this step, just strum all the strings of your ukulele, and you’ll be able to play the G7 uke chord.
G7 Ukulele Chord Applications
Now that we’re past the “how” to play the G7 ukulele chord, let’s discuss “why” and “when” it’s supposed to be played.
Aside from the standard scenarios where you’d cover a song that features this chord, we’d like to explore a few ways this chord can be useful to you for songwriting, improvising, and following other players during jam sessions, especially if you’re playing with people you’ve never played with before.
Song Opener/Closer
The G7 chord is great when used as an opening chord of a song because it allows you to postpone the decision of defining its sonic direction (melancholic – minor, upbeat – major) for later.
When used for closing the tune and outros, it’s typically used as a “hanging” chord while the main melody or bass licks finish the piece.
A Perfect Bridge
The versatile nature of the G7 uke chord makes it an ideal “connecting tissue” between song parts; transitioning from a verse into a chorus or exiting the chorus and diving into a solo section is easy with G7 in the middle because, again, the player is allowed the room to choose which chords to string in the progression flexibly.
For a great example of this in action, take a listen to Disney’s Lava Song. G7 is used widely throughout the song and notably connects the end of the verses to the start of the chorus.
READ MORE: Check out our tutorial on how to play the Lava Song here.
Arpeggiated G7s for Acoustic-Dominant Pieces
If you’re building a song in a temperate fashion and don’t want to overemphasize any particular instrument, playing arpeggiated G7 chords (or any of G7 variations) is an excellent choice. With slight embellishments, you could easily play it in a loop and sing over it because it’s both a simple and a great-sounding chord.
GMaj7 & Gmin7 – Most Common Variations to Expand Your Chord Arsenal
We mentioned earlier that the G7 ukulele chord has elements of both major and minor chords. When bands (or solo artists) are improvising or trying to come up with new material, they sometimes use G Major 7 or G Minor 7 instead of the “plain” G7 chord to ensure its character fits the atmosphere of the song. This is especially true for music that features a single ukulele instrument in the mix.
Fortunately, if you know how to play G7, you’ll only need to make small adjustments to the finger positioning to play these G7 chord variations:
To play a GMaj7:
- Leave the G string open
- Place a barre chord over the first fret position of the strings C, E, and A (pressing C#, F, and A#, respectively)
To play a Gmin7:
- Form a G7 chord by fretting the notes B, F, and D; leave the G string open
- Move your ring finger from note B and barre notes F and A# (first position of the A and E strings)
Conclusion
The G7 uke chord should be a staple in any ukulele player’s skill book. It’s easy to play, present in thousands of popular songs, and its well-rounded nature makes it simple to implement in almost any genre or playing style. We hope that our guide helped you learn how to play the G7 ukulele chord and its most common variations properly.
Jay Searle
Website Founder & Writer
Jay is a self-professed music nerd and ukulele lover. When not working on the website you’ll find him strumming along to his favorite tunes, spending time with his family, or learning to play the piano.
