E dominant seventh

E7 Piano Voicings

E7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making E7 one of the four core shapes to drill.

Drill E7 in all 12 keys

The notes in E7

  • E R
  • G# 3
  • B 5
  • D ♭7

E7 voicings on piano

Each voicing is the exact shape the trainer drills. Press play to hear it — as a block chord or rolled note by note.

Root Position

E · G# · B · D R · 3 · 5 · ♭7

Shell Voicing

E · G# · D R · 3 · ♭7

Rootless A

G# · B · D · F# 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9

Rootless B

D · F# · G# · B ♭7 · 9 · 3 · 5

Where E7 fits in a ii-V-I

E7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making E7 one of the four core shapes to drill.

The fastest way to internalise E7 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.

Practice the full ii-V-I progression

E7 — frequently asked questions

What notes are in E7?

E7 contains E, G#, B, D — root, major third, perfect fifth and flat seventh. The flat seventh is what makes it a dominant chord.

What is the shell voicing for E7?

The E7 shell voicing is root, third and flat seventh. The third and seventh — the guide tones — carry the dominant sound.

Why does E7 sound unresolved?

The major third and flat seventh of E7 form a tritone, an unstable interval that pulls strongly toward resolution.