Guitar Lesson Blog

Seventh Chords

Today we will discuss 7th chords.

There are in fact many7th chords
but today we will talk about the 4 basic
7th chords that are used.

7th chords Jazz up music by
adding more conflict to
the harmony.

How is a 7th chord made?

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Lets go back to our scales.
Each note in the scale has a number.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Major and Minor chords are made from
the 1 3 5 notes.

So now to make a 7th chord
we add the 7th note to the
1 3 5.

So say the C major scale is:
C d e F G a b C

C  e  G  make a Major chord.

So now we add the 7th note

C e  G  b

In this case all the notes are
from the Major scale so this
is the Major 7th chord.

Here is a picture:

The above chord is played at the 8th fret and is known as the “E form”

of the C Major 7 chord.

But strangely when we think
of a 7th chord we usually are
thinking of the Dominant 7th.

The Dominant 7th chord comes
out of the Mixolydian Mode
which has a Flat 7th.

So in the C major scale the
Dominant or mixolydian has
the B flat. So the Dominant 7th is:

C e G Bflat.

When do you use each 7th chord.

That is a big question.

The Major 7th chord would be used
when it is the Root or 1 chord AND
can also be used over the 4 chord.

Going back to our scale

C d e F G a b C

You probably wonder why
sometimes I use CAPITAL letters.

Those are the notes which
produce the Major chords.

C e G = C Major
F a C = F Major
G b d = G Major

the other notes are Minor

d F a = d minor
e G b = e minor
a C e = a minor

before I jump into the Minor 7th

let me clarify when to use the Major 7
and when to use the Dominant 7

If you look at the  Modes
The Ionian or Major scale (1 or Root)
has a major 7th

C d e F G a b C
b and C are right next to each other
1 fret away.

The Lydian Mode also (4th note)
has a major 7th

F G a b C  d e F
e and F are 1 fret away also

the Mixolydian (5th Note)
G a b C d e F G
has a flat 7th
but F and G are 2 frets away
from each other.

So using 7th chords for a progression
would be like this:

C Major7 C Major7 C Major7 C Major7
F  Major 7  F  Major 7
C Major7  C Major7
G 7 (Dominant 7th)
C Major 7

OK Now what is a Minor 7th.

Remember our 3 minor chords:

d F a = d minor (Dorian)
e G b = e minor (Phrygian)
a C e = a minor (Aeolian/Minor)

Well each of the above modes has
a Flat (minor) 7th.

So a Minor 7th is like a Dominant 7
only Minor (The 3rd is minor)

I hope this clears up
any questions you have about
the 7th chords.

I will be posting this to
the blog this weekend wiht
pictures and graphics and tabs.

http://www.guitar5day.com/blog

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