In this lesson, we are going to learn how to use 7th chords to enhance your guitar-playing creativity. 7th Chords can be used to enhance your guitar-playing creativity. If you know how to form them and move them around the fretboard. With a simple easy trick and the right mindset, you can do this quite easily.
Enhance Your Creativity By Using 7th Chords
Being able to form these chord shapes will allow you to open up your creativity in new ways. It will allow you to think about how you are playing and develop your musical knowledge of the fretboard.
If you need to learn how to read chord charts, I suggest you check out my lesson on this topic. It will help you out in this lesson.
How to read chord charts in 7 easy lessons
By forming this one-chord shape, the, C7, and moving it up and down the fretboard, you can create all kinds of cool sounds quite easily. You just add your pinky to the C major chord (which is your flattened 7th note of the major scale) and move the chord up and down the fretboard.
Here is what I mean. C Major scale: C D E F G AEach each one of these letters has a number value. If you look at the scale the numbers are 1-8. Which means, the 7th of the scale would be the B. If we flatten it (bring it back by one fret, this note now becomes an A# or Bb (same note) which is the note that the pinky is now laying.
I am adding the pinky to form the 7th chord.
Adding the pinky can be a bit tricky at first. But it is necessary for this exercise and chord shaHere Here are some tips to help you include your pinky in your guitar paying.
1.) Work on finger exercises. This will help limber up your fingers before you play.
2.) Always include your whenever ever you can. This will allow you to form chord extensions along with the 7th. like sixth’s 9th’s and so forth.
3.) Be aware of the enhancement qualities you can develop by using your pinky in your playing. You will be able to play things most people can’t.
Find additional chords quickly by knowing your notes
By knowing your notes and being able to see them on your fretboard, you will be able to find chords quickly. You will be able to create chord progressions and figure out ways to alter chord shapes and add substitutes. But this takes time. It would help if you studied the fretboard. If you need help in this area be sure to check out this lesson.
How to recognize notes on the fretboard
Practice this technique of forming the 7th chord and moving it up and down the fretboard. Look at ways to play the chord easier for your enjoyment. Look for different ways you can find chords on the fretboard as well. Like for instance, where can you find the A7 chord with this shape?
How about if you go from the C7 to the G? How many frets apart are these two chords? What if you try a progression like C7 to D7 to G7? Where along the fretboard would these chords be located?
These are the things you want to master.
1.) What your notes are on each step?
2.) What your major scale formula is.
3.) where these chords reside non the fretboard.
4.) Notes in any key.
By being able to form the C7 chord shape and repeatedly move it up and down the fretboard,d you are going to able to enhance your guitar playing by creating new exciting tones. And when you add different types of picking as well as rhythm patterns, you’re going to be able to expand your playing ability. You’re going to be able to recognize chord shapes within songs that you otherwise would have not.
Lesson Conclusion
When it comes to improving your guitar playing you must keep learning. Learning new note locations, new chord shapes, new scale patterns,s, and new music theory. You want to keep experimenting with new tools to move your guitar playing forward.
Make sure you develop a practice routine for accelerated learning. Make sure to set your goals so you know where you’re going. Be sure to practice and study daily. Even if it’s just a little bit. It will help improve your development of motor skills and memory retention.
Be sure to check out the book I authored and self-published. Learn Guitar Chord Theory.
Learn Guitar Chord Theory is a comprehensive course on enjoying the fun of constructing guitar chords. It will lead you on a path to guitar chord mastery. It will teach you how to build and fully understand guitar chords in a simple step-by-step method. Starting with the triad (three-note chord) and building up and out from there.
Learn the foundation of the guitar chord, how to properly form it, what notes are needed for each key, and what's necessary to create music with them. Learn to play guitar chords such as majors, minors, sus2, sus4, augmented, diminished, sixth chords, dominant seventh chords, etc. In addition to all that, you'll also learn why they are called those names. This will give you a foundation for the basics of music theory.
Even if you already know basic guitar chords, expanding your chord vocabulary will not only improve your guitar playing but also help improve your musicianship. Packed with information that most guitar players who play by ear don't know. Like how to read chord diagrams. How to move and add notes for creating better emotional content.
And if more help is needed, be sure to contact me for private guitar lessons. I teach students of all ages and skill levels. With customized lessons that cater to the interests of the individual. You'll be having fun playing guitar in no time.
Best of luck and thanks for reading.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
