What Is a Dominant Chord? | Answering Your Guitar Questions

Ever nodded along when someone mentioned a "dominant chord" without really knowing what it meant? You're not alone. This lesson breaks it down clearly—what it is, why it sounds the way it does, and how to start using it in your own playing.

This video is part of the 5-Minute Fix Series — quick answers to your most common guitar questions.

What Is a Dominant Chord?

In simple terms, a dominant chord is a type of seventh chord built from the fifth degree of a major scale. It’s also called a 5 chord or 5-7 chord, and it plays a major role in both traditional and blues-based music.

If you're in the key of E, the fifth degree is B — so your dominant chord is B7.

Why it matters:
The dominant chord is designed to create tension — it naturally wants to resolve to the root (or “1”) chord. That’s what gives progressions like B7 → E their powerful pull.

Dominant 7 vs. Major 7: What’s the Difference?

Let’s take E major as an example:

An E major 7 chord includes the notes E–G#–B–D#
An E dominant 7 chord (E7) includes E–G#–B–D

The difference is the seventh:

Major 7 = natural 7 (D# in this case)
Dominant 7 = flat 7 (D)

That flat 7 creates tension — and tension makes music interesting.

Why It Sounds So Bluesy

Two notes inside the dominant 7 chord create a lot of friction:

The major third (G#)
The flat seventh (D)

Together, they form a tritone — one of the most dissonant intervals in music. This dissonance is exactly what gives dominant chords their "edgy" sound and makes them ideal for blues, funk, and rock.

Where Do You Use Dominant Chords?

Traditionally:

As the 5 chord in a key
To resolve back to the 1 chord (B7 → E, A7 → D, etc.)

In blues:

Everywhere. You’ll often see E7, A7, and B7 used as the I, IV, and V chords, respectively.

Dominant chords are so useful that players started ignoring tradition and using them for their character—especially in blues and rock.

Dominant Chord Shapes on Guitar

Here are a few simple ways to play dominant 7 chords:

Open E7 — Take your standard E major and lift your ring finger
Open A7 — Lift your middle finger from an open A major chord
D7 shape — Use the common triangle shape from open D7 and move it up the neck
C7 shape — Built from the C major shape, adjust one note down two frets
Barre chord versions — Lower one note (often the octave) by two frets to get that dominant sound

Most dominant chords follow a simple rule: lower one of the root notes by two frets, and you've likely created the flat 7.

Quick Demonstration: Hear It Move

Try this progression:

B7 → E
A7 → D
E7 → A

You'll hear the dominant chord pulling toward resolution. It's one of the most satisfying sounds in music — and it's everywhere once you know how to listen for it.

Practice Along With Me

If you're a Play Guitar Academy member, you can grab the chord chart, tab, and backing track for this lesson in the members area.

If you're not a member, no problem — just play along with the video and try the chords I demonstrate.

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Let Me Know What You Think

Did this lesson help clear up what a dominant chord actually is?

Leave a comment or question on the video — and if you’ve got another topic you’d like covered in a 5-Minute Fix, let me know.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.

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