Seventh Chords
Add rich color and jazz sophistication to your playing with seventh chords - the gateway to advanced harmony.
📖 Theory Fundamentals
What Are Seventh Chords?
- •Definition: Four-note chords adding a 7th interval to a triad
- •Formula: Root + 3rd + 5th + 7th
- •Types: Dominant 7, Major 7, Minor 7, Diminished 7
- •Sound Quality: Rich, colorful, tension-filled
- •Function: Dominant resolution, jazz harmony, blues color
Musical Applications
- •Jazz: Foundation of jazz harmony
- •Blues: Dominant 7th chords throughout
- •Rock: Bluesy riffs and turnarounds
- •R&B/Soul: Smooth, sophisticated voicings
📐 Understanding Seventh Chord Construction
G7 (Dominant 7th) Example
- •Root: G (1st degree)
- •Major 3rd: B (3rd degree)
- •Perfect 5th: D (5th degree)
- •Minor 7th: F (7th degree)
- •Result: Tension-filled, wants to resolve
Interval Quality
- •Major 3rd + Minor 7th: Dominant quality
- •Creates tritone: Drives resolution
- •Tension: Wants to resolve to tonic
- •Function: V7 chord in key
- •Psychology: Expectation, anticipation
Scale Relationship
- •Built from: Mixolydian mode (dominant)
- •Key centers: V7 resolves to I
- •Blues: I7-IV7-V7 all dominant
- •Jazz: ii-V-I progressions
- •Cadences: Strongest resolution in tonal music
🎸 Essential Dominant 7th Chords
💡 Start Here
These are the fundamental dominant 7th chords every guitarist should learn.
E7
Notes: E-G#-B-D
Fingering: Easy open shape
Use: Blues in A, key of A
A7
Notes: A-C#-E-G
Fingering: Simple open shape
Use: Blues in D, key of D
D7
Notes: D-F#-A-C
Fingering: Compact open shape
Use: Blues in G, key of G
🎼 Common Seventh Chord Progressions
12-Bar Blues I7-IV7-V7
Chord Sequence
A7
I7
D7
IV7
E7
V7
Strumming Pattern
D - DU - D - DU
Shuffle blues feel
Tempo: 80-120 BPM
Feel: Bluesy, driving
Genre: Blues, Rock, R&B
Blues Progression (A7-D7-E7)
The foundational blues progression - dominant 7th chords create the characteristic bluesy tension heard in countless blues and rock songs.
💡 Practice Tips for Chord Progressions
Technique Focus
- •Practice transitioning between 7th chord shapes
- •Focus on muting unused strings cleanly
- •Use shuffle rhythm for authentic blues feel
- •Keep the 7th note ringing clearly
Musical Application
- •Essential for blues and jazz styles
- •Creates tension that resolves satisfyingly
- •Adds sophistication to simple progressions
- •Foundation for more complex extended chords
🎶 Famous Songs Using Seventh Chords
Blues & Rock Classics
- •"Red House" - Jimi Hendrix (B7-E7-F#7)
- •"Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughan (E7-A7-B7)
- •"Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry (Bb7-Eb7-F7)
- •"Before You Accuse Me" - Eric Clapton (E7-A7-B7)
- •"The Thrill Is Gone" - B.B. King (Bm7-Em7)
⚡ Practice Exercises
💡 Building Seventh Chord Skills
These exercises will help you master seventh chords and their applications.
1Exercise 1: Dominant 7th Chord Changes
Progression: E7 - A7 - D7 - G7
Practice clean transitions between open dominant 7th chords
Tip: Focus on letting the 7th note ring clearly
🚀 Advanced Seventh Chord Concepts
Seventh Chord Types Compared
- •Dominant 7th: Major triad + minor 7th (G7)
- •Major 7th: Major triad + major 7th (Gmaj7)
- •Minor 7th: Minor triad + minor 7th (Gm7)
- •Half-Diminished: Dim triad + minor 7th (Gm7b5)
- •Diminished 7th: Dim triad + dim 7th (Gdim7)
Songs Using This Chord
Why Songs Work Hub →Hear how this chord is used in real songs with harmonic music theory breakdowns
All Blues by Miles Davis
Blackbird by The Beatles
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Classical Gas by Mason Williams
Crossroads by Cream
Dust My Broom by Elmore James
Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) by Santana
Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash
Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
Master of Puppets by Metallica
Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones
Playing God by Polyphia
Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan
Roundabout by Yes
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) by Jimi Hendrix
What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
The Ultimate Fretboard & Modal Roadmap
Get our complete 3-page reference guide with the 12-fret note map, universal interval formulas, 7 modes matrix, and CAGED pentatonic boxes. Perfect for your music stand.
Instant download • 100% free • Unsubscribe anytime
Explore Related Content
Related Songs
Song Lessons
Practice Exercises
Continue Your Chord Journey
Now that you understand seventh chords, explore how they connect to other chord types and advanced harmonic concepts.