Seventh Chords in the Major Scale (Lesson #3)
The Seventh chords in the Major scale
Now, after we’ve covered the Major scale and its triads (Lesson #1 & Lesson #2), we can take the next step towards Seventh chords.
So what are Seventh chords?
The Seventh chord is simply a triad with a fourth note on top of it. It is called a Seventh chord because the interval between the bottom and top notes is a seventh interval (in Latin - Septima).
Let’s start building chords on top of the chords we already know.
When repeating this process over every C Major triad we get the following Seventh chords:
C → Cmaj7 (Major 7)
Dm → Dm7 - (Minor 7)
Em → Em7 - (Minor 7)
F → Fmaj7 - (Major 7)
G → G7 - (7)
Am → Am7 - (Minor 7)
Bo → Bø - (Half Diminished, can be written also like this - Bm7b5)
This process has created 4 different chord types - Xmaj7, Xm7, Xø and X7. These are the only types of chords used in the Major scale.
Now, let's see how to play these 4 chords in root position in 3 different sets of strings (root position is the natural form of a chord with its defining note as the bass note).
For the PDF with ALL the positions - CLICK HERE
Root Positions: Set #1
Now let's practice what we've just learned!
Play all the C Major scale diatonic chords all over the neck. Play from starting chord all the way one octave up and back down.
For example, Fmaj7 - Fmaj7 in C Major scale goes like this:
Fmaj7 → G7 → Am7 → Bø → Cmaj7 → Dm7 → Em7 → Fmaj7
Always start with the lowest position available on the fretboard!
When playing set #1 the lowest position we can play (without open strings) is Fmaj7.
When playing set #2 the lowest position we can play (without open strings) is Bø.
When playing set #3 the lowest position we can play (without open strings) is Em7.
💪🏽 Exercise:
1. Set the metronome to 60 BPM.
2. Play one chord per bar from the starting chord, all the way one octave up and back down.
3. Move up the tempo slowly as your hand gets familiar with these positions.
4. When you feel like your transition from one chord to another is good keep pushing up the tempo.
Note: playing also arpeggios in this exercise is highly recommended, this way, you will be able to notice any tiny imperfection in your hand placement.
Seventh Chords Inversions:
Each one of these chords we've just learned has 3 extra inversions, 1 position for every note of the chord, as seen in this example:
Now let’s see how to play these on the guitar. As said before, we have 4 chords, 3 inversions for every chord plus a natural form, that’s 16 in total.
Now, let’s build the 4 variations of every chord we’ve learned, on the same 3 sets of strings:
String Set #1:
CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF
String Set #2:
CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF
String Set #3:
CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF
Okay, after we became familiar with these new positions, it's time to put everything into practice!
The next exercise will help you put everything you've just learned in context. Like in the last exercise we will play the C major scale diatonic chords back and forth.We will divide the exercise into 3 parts (1 part for each set of strings) and play the C major scale from the lowest C position, one octave up to a higher C position.
💪🏽 Exercise:
1. Set the metronome to 60 BPM.
2. Play one chord per bar from the starting chord, all the way one octave up and back down.
3. Move up the tempo slowly as your hand gets familiar with these positions.
4. When you feel like your transition from one chord to another is good keep pushing up the tempo.
Note: playing also arpeggios in this exercise is highly recommended, this way, you will be able to notice any tiny imperfection in your hand placement.
OK fellas, that's all for this lesson. Let us know about your progress in the comments and!!
In the next lessons, we will learn more about the Major scale (yeah we're far from done).
Lesson #4 is about the harmonic function of the Major scale!
If you feel like you need more background on this topic, check out Lesson #1 and Lesson #2!
Be sure to check these out if you want to get the full picture.