The document discusses different types of 7th chords - dominant 7th, major 7th, and minor 7th - showing their fingerings and explaining that dominant 7ths are commonly used on the 5 chord of a key, while minor 7ths can be inverted for a more contemporary sound; it encourages adding 7ths to minor chords and provides homework to practice 7th chords in various keys.
The document discusses different types of 7th chords - dominant 7th, major 7th, and minor 7th - showing their fingerings and explaining that dominant 7ths are commonly used on the 5 chord of a key, while minor 7ths can be inverted for a more contemporary sound; it encourages adding 7ths to minor chords and provides homework to practice 7th chords in various keys.
The document discusses different types of 7th chords - dominant 7th, major 7th, and minor 7th - showing their fingerings and explaining that dominant 7ths are commonly used on the 5 chord of a key, while minor 7ths can be inverted for a more contemporary sound; it encourages adding 7ths to minor chords and provides homework to practice 7th chords in various keys.
The document discusses different types of 7th chords - dominant 7th, major 7th, and minor 7th - showing their fingerings and explaining that dominant 7ths are commonly used on the 5 chord of a key, while minor 7ths can be inverted for a more contemporary sound; it encourages adding 7ths to minor chords and provides homework to practice 7th chords in various keys.
Beginner to Pro Lecture 14: Most Common 7th Chords
Dominant 7th. Major triad with the addition of a minor 7th interval from the root. Let see it in C. (The fingering on these may take some practice)
R1 R2 R3 R5
G B D F
Minor 7th interval
When the dominant 7th chord appears, it is usually played on the 5 chord of the key. In the key of C the 5 chord is G.
Major 7th. Major triad with the addition of a major 7th interval from the root. Let’s look again at the G chord
R1 R3 R5 R5
G B D F#
Major 7th interval
Minor 7th. This is a minor chord with a minor 7th interval from root to top note.
Look at the 2m7 here in the key of C.
R1 R2 R3 R5
D F A C
Minor 7th interval
To get a more contemporary sound, you will want to move the 7th note off the top by inverting the chord. (NOTE: When the 7th is the top note, the chord has a sound more like jazz.)
To create a more contemporary minor 7th chord we will play the triad as a 2nd inversion, then add the seventh back into the middle of the chord.
Notice we still have the same notes as above, but the are just re-arranged. In fact, this one is easier to play.
R1 R2 R3 R5
A C D F
Add the left hand on D (L5) and A (L2)
7th interval but in the middle To push the sound over the top to make a REALLY contemporary christian sound, we remove a note.
Oddly enough, we take out the root of the chord from the right hand. See below with the left hand added too.
R5 R1 R1 R2X R3 R5 D A A C X D F
Dm7 Notice the right hand. Those notes make up the 4 chord (F). This looks an awful lot like a 4 chord over the 2.
Closing thoughts: You can almost always add the 7th to your minor chords in the key (2m,3m,6m). Put the 7th note in the middle of the chord by playing the triad in 2nd inversion. It will sound amazing.
Other thoughts: 2m7 can be thought of as a 4/2, 3m7 can be thought of as a 5/3, 6m7 can be thought of as 1/6. Use this if it comes easier to you.
Homework: 1. Be familiar with how to work a dominant and major 7 chord.
2. Work out specifically the correct inversions for the 2m,3m, and 6m in C. Then work on other keys in this order. G,F,D,Bb,A,Eb,E. Then onto the remaining keys as you are able.
