This song packs quite the punch – both in terms of chord complexity and melody tension. Additionally, it uses several seventh chords which can drastically change its sound and feel.
Seventh chords add depth and emotion to a triad by adding an additional note seven steps above its root note. There are four basic types of 7th chords.
C7
Beginners looking to expand their rhythm guitar repertoire should look no further than 7th chords as an effective means of adding depth and complexity to their playing. 7th chords consist of one root note with minor third, major seventh or half-diminished (m7b5) attached as chord tones.
Conway Twitty makes use of this bluesy chord in one of his signature tunes “Hello Darlin’,” employing it to build tension.
The C7 chord is a popular fretboard shape in G Major. It’s easy to play using basic open chords, as well as being suitable for more complicated funk sequences.
D7
Based on the formula of a dominant seventh chord (1-3-5-b7), this chord combines its elements from first, third, fifth and flat seventh scale degrees of D major scale (D-F#-A-C). Commonly found in blues music as an anchor note such as Carl Perkins’ classic song “Blue Suede Shoes,” this chord often forms part of its foundation.
This particular voicing of a D7 chord features a movable shape similar to what most beginners learn when starting off, making this an excellent way to build muscle memory with these chords and also offer great finger exercises with its bass note played using only your thumb! This chord also makes a fantastic thumb exercise.
E7
7th chords are fuller versions of basic triads, featuring an additional note that adds tension or release. R&B artists such as Alicia Keys and Marvin Gaye often employ them in their melodies for an emotive, soulful sound.
This E dominant 7th chord (commonly referred to as an E7/G#m7) features intervals from a root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh positions – perfect for practicing fingering patterns with your left hand and giving your thumb an aerobic workout!
Play this fun little strum pattern to familiarize yourself with the E7 chord before moving on to other songs.
F7
Seventh chords can add warmth and drama to R&B ballads or give your funk progressions that extra edge they need! Not only are seventh chords powerful tools for conveying emotion and telling stories, they’re also great way to add color and dimension to your sound!
Major seventh chords are built from major triads with an added major seventh interval, often found in jazz and bossa nova music genres but can also be found across genres.
Sus2 or simply 2 indicates a sus chord with no third and the second (or sometimes ninth) note used instead, while alt/dom indicates an altered dominant seventh chord such as C7add13.
G7
This emotive tune shows that seventh chords can add great character and complexity to a progression. Featuring arpeggiated chords that create the unique melody, this song makes practicing simple for beginners.
With simple finger positions and a traditional strumming pattern, this song is simple to learn and play. Master this tune quickly to impress your special someone!
A7
Amazing Grace is one of the best-known folk songs to incorporate an A7 chord into its composition, providing a wonderful way to add tension.
A7 chords are well-known for their soothing yet sophisticated sound and can often be heard in blues and jazz music. A7 chords offer another great way to add contrast to your progressions by including major seventh intervals in them – this provides them with more vibrant tones compared to minor or diminished sevenths, creating unresolved tension that brings your song alive!