Introduction to the Seventh Chord

In this lesson, I'm going to introduce the seventh chord.

Understanding the Seventh Chord

This is neither a major seventh nor a minor seventh; it is simply called a seventh chord. It is interesting because it has:

• The major third of a major chord
• A flattened seventh of a minor chord

Example in G

Let's take the key of G as an example:

• Root: G
• Third: B
• Fifth: D
• Seventh: F natural (rather than F sharp)

So, when I play this chord on the piano, it will sound like this:

It has quite a bluesy sound. The flattened seventh contributes to our blues sound.

Connection to Classical Music

If you've ever played a dominant seventh in classical music, it's the same chord as this. The interest in the chord comes from the relationship between:

• Major third
• Flattened seventh

This interval, known as a tritone, has a fascinating history. It was once referred to as diabolos in musica, an Italian term meaning "the devil in music," due to its unsettled sound. However, for our purposes in blues and jazz, it creates a fantastic sound.

Linking Chord Tones

In the same way that we've done for minor and major seventh chords, I am going to link my chord tones (root, third, fifth, and seventh) with relevant passing notes.

This leads us to a scale that perfectly fits a G7 chord. This scale is a type of mixolydian mode.

Modes Covered

So far, we have covered:

• Mixolydian Mode
• Dorian Mode

Practice Track for Seventh Chords

Just like with the minor seventh and major seventh chords, I've created a workout track for seventh chords. These are organized in the same way, going up in minor thirds:

• G7
• B flat 7
• C sharp 7
• E7

Playing the Scale

I'm going to play my Mixolydian scale and my G7 chord tones over the track:

1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4.

And again, the tracks go through 12 keys.

Practice Time Overview

We'll need to consider our familiar 12 key dilemma regarding how to effectively divide our practice time and commitment.