Guitar For Kids -- The A7 Chord
Hi gang!
Hi gang!
In past lessons, we learned about how to build basic chords out of a root, a 3rd, and a 5th. All basic chords have this R 3 5 thing going. We also learned the difference between a major chord and a minor chord.
Major chord (R 3 5 ) = R + M3 + m3 (root (R) + M3 (3) + m3 (which will be the 5th)
Minor chord (R 3 5 ) = R + m3 + M3 (root (R) + m3 (3) + M3 (which will be the 5th)
Now we're gonna talk about how to build 7th chords.
There are 2 major types of 7th chords, but we are only gonna talk today about your basic garden variety run-of-the-mill ordinary 7th chord -- also called a "dominant" 7th chord.
We're going to talk about the A7 chord here in a moment, but first I wanna make sure that you understand what a 7th chord really is.
All basic chords have a root, a 3rd, and a 5th right? So... Whadaya think the formula for any dominant 7th chord will be?
How 'bout R + 3 + 5 + 7!
In other words, I need to add one more 3rd to the basic R 3 5 thingybob, right?
Say yes.
You have to "tag" a m3 (minor 3rd) onto the 5th.
So to make a dominant 7th chord out of a major chord, the formula is:
R + M3 + m3 + m3
So, an A7 (A dominant 7th) will be:
A C# E G (R 3 5 7)
The interval between E and G is a m3.
Use the Chromatic Scale to check this out.
A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A
You will see dominant 7th chords as just plain A7, B7, C7, D7... etc. The word "dominant" is not used 99.989043674 % of the time (approximately) when looking at chord progressions.
But if you see the word "Major" or "Maj", or a capital "M" in front of the "7", IT'S A DIFFERENT KINDA CHORD. We'll learn them suckahs later. But it ain't a regular 7th chord.
Okay?
Now take a look at the 2 fingerings below that I gave ya for an A7 chord.
[ 0 0 2 0 2 0 ]
[ 0 0 2 2 2 3 ]
There's a short form, and there's a long form. Both have the notes A C# E G in them, and those are the only notes allowed by definition.
The short form is no problemo, but the long form makes you bar the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings on the 2nd fret. Then you can add your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string.
Just make sure that all of the notes are as clear as a bell.
As always, practice switching these chords back and forth with all of the other chords that you know.
See ya later.
Professor Bruno Noteworthy
by: Professor Bruno Noteworthy: Toon Music Professor
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