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New Released in April 2026

A7 Chord Inversions: All Four Positions

A dominant 7th chord inversions: four positions, A7, A7/C#, A7/E and A7/G. Same four notes (A C# E G), a different one in the bass. Learn to spot each position at a glance, then use the nearest one to move between chords.

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  • MIDI keyboard
  • Digital or acoustic piano
  • Guitar
  • Computer, phone or tablet
A7/C# C# E G A

A dominant 7th chord: all four inversions

The lowest note names the position; the chord is still A7.

A7 A C# E G

Root position: A C# E G

A7/C# C# E G A

1st inversion: C# E G A

A7/E E G A C#

2nd inversion: E G A C#

A7/G G A C# E

3rd inversion: G A C# E

  • Root position: starts on A, a white key; black keys: C#
  • 1st inversion: starts on C#, a black key; black keys: C#
  • 2nd inversion: starts on E, a white key; black keys: C#
  • 3rd inversion: starts on G, a white key; black keys: C#

How to tell the A7 inversions apart

Look for the two notes that sit next to each other: none in root position, at the top in the 1st inversion, in the middle in the 2nd, at the bottom in the 3rd.

PositionBassNameFigured bassRule
Root positionAA77no neighbours: four notes evenly stacked (major 3rd + minor 3rd + minor 3rd)
1st inversionC#A7/C#6/5neighbours at the top (minor 3rd + minor 3rd + major 2nd)
2nd inversionEA7/E4/3neighbours in the middle (minor 3rd + major 2nd + major 3rd)
3rd inversionGA7/G4/2neighbours at the bottom (major 2nd + major 3rd + minor 3rd)

Fingering for A7 in every position

PositionRight handLeft hand
Root position (A C# E G)1-2-3-55-3-2-1
1st inversion (C# E G A)1-2-3-55-3-2-1
2nd inversion (E G A C#)1-2-3-55-3-2-1
3rd inversion (G A C# E)1-2-3-55-3-2-1

Four notes, four fingers: 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left work in every position.

Move through Em7 → A7 → Dmaj7 without jumping

This is why pianists learn seventh-chord inversions: Em7 → A7 → Dmaj7 keeps the hand in one place.

Em7 B D E G
A7 A C# E G
Dmaj7 A C# D F#
  • From Em7 to A7: B → A, D → C#, E stays, G stays.
  • From A7 to Dmaj7: A stays, C# stays, E → D, G → F#.
ChordRunner showing a chord block while hands play the piano

Make A7 inversions automatic

ChordRunner accepts every voicing, so you can drill all four positions of A7 between other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone.

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The A7 chord · All piano chords · Seventh chords explained

Common questions

How many inversions does A7 have?

Four positions in total, because it has four notes: root position plus three inversions, A7/C#, A7/E and A7/G.

How do I recognise the 3rd inversion of A7?

The seventh, G, is in the bass and sits right next to the root A above it: the pair of neighbouring notes is at the bottom.

Can I practise A7 inversions with a MIDI keyboard or microphone?

Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also hears a piano through the microphone; every inversion of A7 counts.

Your instrument is the controller.

ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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