If your blues in E falls apart the moment you reach the V chord, you’re not alone. Many players can strum E and A all day but hesitate when it’s time for the B dominant 7. The good news: with a focused, one-week routine and a couple of small mechanical fixes, you can make this grip ring clearly and switch into it without breaking the groove.
Quick reference (one click): B7
The reliable open-shape recipe
Here’s the exact fingering that most players use for the open version. Start with the 5th string (A string) and work down:
- 5th string, 2nd fret – middle finger. This is your anchor. Keep it down during most changes.
- 4th string, 1st fret – index finger. Curl tightly; the string should touch the fingertip, not the pad.
- 3rd string, 2nd fret – ring finger. Aim it slightly diagonally toward the headstock to avoid muting the 2nd string.
- 2nd string open.
- 1st string, 2nd fret – pinky. Keep the knuckle high so the note rings cleanly.
- 6th string: mute. Let the tip of your middle finger lightly touch the 6th string to silence it.
Strum from the 5th string down. Check each note individually before strumming all six strings—this is the fastest way to find which finger is choking which string.
Make it clean: two mini-motions that solve most buzz
- Elbow drop for clearance: Let your strumming-side elbow drift a touch closer to your body. This rotates your fretting hand so the pinky can come down more vertically on the 1st string.
- Fret-top aiming: Place every fretting finger just behind the fret wire (toward the headstock). You’ll need far less pressure, and the tone will be crisper.
Bonus: pick a light, slow downstroke and listen for squeaks or dead notes. Fix just one string at a time before you increase strumming intensity.
Video walkthrough
Use this video as a 5-minute warm-up before each practice block to remind your hands of the posture and angle.
Faster changes with an anchor finger
The secret to smooth transitions is to keep the middle finger glued to the 5th string, 2nd fret. Try these two high-frequency changes used in blues and folk:
- From E major: lift your index from the 3rd string 1st fret and drop it to the 4th string 1st fret; move your ring from the 4th string 2nd fret to the 3rd string 2nd fret; add the pinky on the 1st string 2nd fret. The middle finger never moves.
- To A dominant 7: from the B-rooted shape, release the pinky and shift the index to the 4th string 2nd fret while keeping the middle anchored; then add the open 3rd string and 1st string. Practice these as 4-beat bars: two bars of E, one bar of A7, one bar of the B-rooted shape, repeat.
Seven-day plan (15 focused minutes per day)
Set a metronome at a speed where you can play perfectly—not fast. If you stumble, slow it down by 10–15 bpm. Use a phone timer to keep sessions short and sharp.
- Day 1 – Shape memorization (60–70 bpm): Place the chord, lift, place again. Ten slow reps. Then play 8 bars of steady quarter-note strums, muting the 6th string every time.
- Day 2 – Clean-note audit: Pick each string separately, adjust finger angles, and note which finger tends to mute neighbors. Finish with 16 slow downstrums.
- Day 3 – E to B-rooted change: Two beats of E, two beats of the B-rooted shape. Keep the middle finger planted on the 5th string. Aim for 40 clean swaps.
- Day 4 – Groove it: Use a bass–strum pattern: pick the 5th string, then a light down–up on the higher strings. Count “bass, two-and; bass, four-and.”
- Day 5 – Add A7 and a turnaround: Cycle E (4 beats) → A7 (4 beats) → E (4 beats) → B-rooted shape (4 beats). Loop for five minutes.
- Day 6 – Dynamics and palm muting: Palm-mute the bass note with the side of your picking hand near the bridge. Alternate muted and open bars to build control.
- Day 7 – Performance reps: Record yourself playing a 12-bar in E. Don’t stop. Listen back once, note the exact seconds where the V chord gets messy, and run 10 targeted reps at those spots.
Common problems and quick fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Bass note booms or low 6th string rings | 6th string unmuted | Touch the 6th string lightly with the tip of the middle finger; test with single downstrokes |
| High 1st string is dead or buzzy | Pinky collapsing | Drop the wrist slightly; press just behind the fret wire; keep the knuckle high |
| 2nd string sounds choked | Ring finger flattening across the 2nd string | Angle ring finger diagonally toward the headstock; rotate elbow inward |
| Hand fatigue within a minute | Over-gripping | Press only as hard as needed for a clear note; relax the thumb every two beats |
Two handy variations
- Three-string mini-grip (quiet passages): Play only the D–G–B strings: 1st fret on the D string, 2nd fret on the G string, B string open. It gives you the color of the chord without the heavy bass.
- Shuffle feel: Alternate between the standard voicing and adding your pinky to the 2nd string, 2nd fret on beats “two-and” and “four-and.” It’s an instant bluesy roll.
Rhythm that sells the chord
Even a perfect grip falls flat without time feel. Try this bar:
- Beat 1: pick the 5th string (bass note)
- Beat 2: light down–up across the top three strings
- Beat 3: bass note again
- Beat 4: down–up with a gentle accent
Keep the “&” of beats 2 and 4 whisper-quiet. The contrast between bass and shimmer makes the V chord sit correctly in the groove.
When small hands or stubborn pinkies get in the way
If your pinky refuses to land, switch to a two-step approach: place the index and middle first (D and A strings), then land ring and pinky together. Practicing that little choreography for a few days usually solves the timing. You can also shorten your nail on the pinky to help it angle cleanly onto the 1st string.
Putting it all together
Mastering this chord isn’t about finger strength; it’s about economy. Keep the middle finger anchored, use fret-top aiming, mute the low 6th string, and drill the E ↔ V change slowly for a few minutes each day. At the end of a week, you should be able to hit the V chord on time, in tune, and with a tone that lifts your entire progression.
Final nudge: record yourself before you begin today and again in a week. The improvement is usually dramatic—and hearing it back is the best motivation to keep the habit going.