learn the seventh guitar chords
What are the seventh chords?
Seventh chords are chords that include a seventh interval above the root note, adding an additional layer of harmony and complexity. These chords are widely used in classical, flamenco, jazz, blues, rock, and other styles to add color, tension, or resolution.
how to use the intervals to make chords?
Before making a 7th chord, it’s essential to understand how to construct a major or minor chord using intervals. Major and minor chords consist of three notes, while seventh chords include an additional note—the 7th. The combination of these notes and intervals determines whether a chord becomes a major seventh, minor seventh, or dominant seventh.
The sequence of intervals is as follows: root note, minor 2nd, major 2nd, minor 3rd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, flat 5 (♭5), perfect 5th, minor 6th, major 6th, minor 7th, and major 7th.
- To make a major chord, we use the root note, major 3rd, and perfect 5th.
- To make a minor chord, we use the root note, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th.
let's learn the types of the 7th chords!
- Major Seventh: This chord consists of a major triad with an added major 7th, creating the intervals: root note, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th.
- Minor Seventh: This chord consists of a minor triad with an added minor 7th, creating the intervals: root note, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th.
- Dominant Seventh (or simply “Seventh”): This chord consists of a major triad with an added minor 7th, creating the intervals: root note, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th.
Let's make chords with the C root note
C Major Chord: Root Note (C), Major 3rd (E), Perfect 5th (G).
C Minor Chord: Root Note (C), Minor 3rd (D#), Perfect 5th (G).
C Major 7th Chord: Root Note (C), Major 3rd (E), Perfect 5th (G), Major 7th (B).
C Minor 7th Chord: Root Note (C), Minor 3rd (D#), Perfect 5th (G), Minor 7th (Bb).
C Dominant 7th Chord: Root Note (C), Major 3rd (E), Perfect 5th (G), Minor 7th (Bb).
guitar lesson on the 7th chords
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