The E Dominant 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of E, G♯, B, and D. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| E | Root | 1 |
| G♯ | Major 3rd | 3 |
| B | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| D | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
E Dominant 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | E – G♯ – B – D |
| 1st Inversion | G♯ – B – D – E |
| 2nd Inversion | B – D – E – G♯ |
| 3rd Inversion | D – E – G♯ – B |
Key Signature
A dominant chord points home to the key a fifth below its root: the E Dominant 7th is the V (dominant) of A Major, so the relevant key signature is that key’s — 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). Spelled as a scale, these notes are E Mixolydian.
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
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Chords in the Key of A Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the A major scale:
How E Dominant 7th functions in a key
The same chord takes on a different harmonic role depending on the key it appears in. Here is where E Dominant 7th sits diatonically across the common keys:
- In A major, E Dominant 7th is the V chord — the dominant.
- In F♯ minor, E Dominant 7th is the ♭VII chord — a mediant / color chord.