G to E7 chord change
Your index finger and middle finger lift and move; your ring finger comes off. Your strumming hand does not change: both chords use all six strings.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger. o means play the string open, ✕ means don’t play it.
Finger by finger
- Lifts and movesIndex finger (1) lifts and moves from the A string, 2nd fret to the G string, 1st fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the A string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts offRing finger (3) lifts off (it was on the high e string, 3rd fret).
| Finger | On G | On E7 | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | A string, 2nd fret | G string, 1st fret | Lifts and moves |
| Middle finger (2) | low E string, 3rd fret | A string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Ring finger (3) | high e string, 3rd fret | not used | Lifts off |
How to practise G to E7
- Play G and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the index finger: it has the furthest to go (to the G string, 1st fret). Aim it first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from G to E7 and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on G, four on E7. When that is clean, try two strums each, then one.
- Time yourself with the trainer below: one minute, counting every clean change. Do it once a day and watch the number climb.
An easier way to play it
G to E7 (G with ring, middle and little finger): the middle finger stays down. It is the same pair of chords, just fingered so the change is shorter.
- Goes downIndex finger (1) goes down on the G string, 1st fret.
- Stays putMiddle finger (2) stays put on the A string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts offRing finger (3) lifts off (it was on the low E string, 3rd fret).
- Lifts offLittle finger (4) lifts off (it was on the high e string, 3rd fret).
One-minute G to E7 trainer
Press Start, hold G through the count-in, then change back and forth for one minute. Tap the big button (or press the space bar) every time you land a clean chord. Your best score is kept.
Want other chords? Open the full chord change trainer.
Songs that use G to E7
These songs in our free song library change between G and E7. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
G to E7: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from G to E7?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your index finger and middle finger lift and move; your ring finger comes off. With the easier fingering on this page, middle finger can stay in contact.
How do I change from G to E7 faster?
Practise the change on its own, not inside a song. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, land them all at once, and lead with the finger that has the longest trip. Then do one minute of changes a day with a timer and count them. If it still feels slow, try the easier version: G to E7.
How many G to E7 changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: G to E7 is one, and back again is two. Around 30 in a minute is a solid start and enough for slow songs. At 40 most songs at a relaxed tempo start to flow, and at about 60 (one change a second) the change is ready for almost anything.
What songs use G and E7?
In our free song library, Make Me a Pallet on the Floor, Greensleeves and Hesitation Blues use it. In the key of G, E7 is a borrowed dominant chord that leads on to Am or A7. You hear G to E7 in old-time and ragtime songs.
Is E7 to G the same as G to E7?
It uses the same moves in reverse. Practise both directions: the trainer counts each switch either way.
More chord changes
Learn the chords in the right order
Fretwork’s lessons teach one chord at a time, with a ring test and a one-minute change check before you move on. The first two stages are free.