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The Next Step
So, we payed for four notes, where is our extra note? The extra note is called the Seventh. In a chord, the seventh acts as an extra flavour to our basic major or minor chords. Depending on whether the chord is major, or minor, the seventh will have a different effect.
There are two types of '7th' - Major 7th and Minor 7th
A major seventh is one fret (semi-tone) below the Root.
A minor seventh is two frets (one tone) below the Root.
How does the 7th affect a major chord?
A major seventh chord tone lends a rich depth to sound.
A minor seventh chord tone lends a 'bluesy' sound.
How does the 7th affect a minor chord?
A major seventh chord tone lends a stark, angular sound.
(This is sometimes known as the James Bond chord, think of that shimmering guitar chord at the end of the theme tune)
A minor seventh chord tone lends a subtle depth to the chord.
So, we payed for four notes, where is our extra note? The extra note is called the Seventh. In a chord, the seventh acts as an extra flavour to our basic major or minor chords. Depending on whether the chord is major, or minor, the seventh will have a different effect.
There are two types of '7th' - Major 7th and Minor 7th
A major seventh is one fret (semi-tone) below the Root.
A minor seventh is two frets (one tone) below the Root.
How does the 7th affect a major chord?
A major seventh chord tone lends a rich depth to sound.
A minor seventh chord tone lends a 'bluesy' sound.
How does the 7th affect a minor chord?
A major seventh chord tone lends a stark, angular sound.
(This is sometimes known as the James Bond chord, think of that shimmering guitar chord at the end of the theme tune)
A minor seventh chord tone lends a subtle depth to the chord.
How do we add the 7th to the F major chord?
Right. We need to move some notes around.
1. Lets leave the Root where it is. Fret one of the E string.
2. Lets leave the third on fret two of the G string.
3. Lets move the fifth up one octave (12 semi-tones) from fret zero on the C string, to fret 3 on the A string.
This eliminates our 'doubled' chord tone, and gives us a free string, the C string! This is where we will put our seventh. We are left with the following chord.
Right. We need to move some notes around.
1. Lets leave the Root where it is. Fret one of the E string.
2. Lets leave the third on fret two of the G string.
3. Lets move the fifth up one octave (12 semi-tones) from fret zero on the C string, to fret 3 on the A string.
This eliminates our 'doubled' chord tone, and gives us a free string, the C string! This is where we will put our seventh. We are left with the following chord.
We now have an arrangement of notes, called a 'voice arrangement', of Major Third, Major seventh, Root and Fifth. We can play around with these notes to create whichever chord we want to play. For a major chord with a minor seventh, known as a Dominant Seventh chord, just move the major seventh down one fret. Boom. F7.
For a minor chord with a Minor Seventh, move the Major Third down one fret, making it a minor third, and again, move the major seventh down one fret to a minor seventh. Boom. F minor 7.
But this is not the end of the story. Lets take F Major Seventh as an example.
For a minor chord with a Minor Seventh, move the Major Third down one fret, making it a minor third, and again, move the major seventh down one fret to a minor seventh. Boom. F minor 7.
But this is not the end of the story. Lets take F Major Seventh as an example.
If you move each individual note up the string to its next nearest chord tone, you get the same chord, but a different voice arrangement, at a different place on the neck!
1.Move the Fifth on the 3rd fret to the 7th fret. It is now a Major Seventh.
2.Move the Root on the 1st fret to the 5th fret. It is now a Major Third.
3. Move the Major Seventh on the 4th fret to the 5th fret. It is now the Root.
4. Move the Major Third on the 2nd fret to the 5th fret. It is now a Fifth.
Now we have frets 5, 5, 5 and 7, chord tones perfect 5th, root, major 3rd and major 7th.
Boom. Another F Major7 chord voicing.
You can do this again, and again, once more and you arrive at your original voicing, but an octave higher!
1.Move the Fifth on the 3rd fret to the 7th fret. It is now a Major Seventh.
2.Move the Root on the 1st fret to the 5th fret. It is now a Major Third.
3. Move the Major Seventh on the 4th fret to the 5th fret. It is now the Root.
4. Move the Major Third on the 2nd fret to the 5th fret. It is now a Fifth.
Now we have frets 5, 5, 5 and 7, chord tones perfect 5th, root, major 3rd and major 7th.
Boom. Another F Major7 chord voicing.
You can do this again, and again, once more and you arrive at your original voicing, but an octave higher!
You can apply this method to any chord type, in any key. You will then be able to play any chord, in any key, in any area of the neck. As you progress to more advanced chord types, such as 13th, 7b5 or 7#9b5 chords for example, this becomes more difficult.
As there are only four strings on our beloved uke, some advanced chords are physically impossible to play. Add a melody on top of the chords, and we only have three strings! You will then need to carefully select which chord tones to include in each underlying chord, at any given moment, to express your desired sound.
By way of example, here are some videos to illustrate the application of this concept.
Use this information as a starting point. Use it to embellish your music.
Experiment, practise and above all.. Play your ukulele!
As there are only four strings on our beloved uke, some advanced chords are physically impossible to play. Add a melody on top of the chords, and we only have three strings! You will then need to carefully select which chord tones to include in each underlying chord, at any given moment, to express your desired sound.
By way of example, here are some videos to illustrate the application of this concept.
Use this information as a starting point. Use it to embellish your music.
Experiment, practise and above all.. Play your ukulele!
Stay tuned! I am currently writing part three, an introduction to altered harmony!
Any questions? Ask me!
Any questions? Ask me!
