Catfish might appear plain at first glance, but adding the appropriate spices adds layers of depth and sophistication. The same concept holds true in soul music.
This tuning shifts string 2 up a full step to B, creating an A-modal sound that also allows for hammer-on 5 over flattened 7 soundscape. This alternative dobro tuning.
1. Gm7
G minor seventh chord may not receive much praise, but its inclusion can add tremendous depth to any song it’s used in. Like all minor seventh chords, it features G, Bb, D and F with an interval structure of 1m3 5b7.
This chord can often be found at key moments in a chord progression, like our dominant and leading tone. Additionally, this chord can appear less frequently on subdominant, supertonic, and mediant degrees.
2. Am7
Am7 chord is one of the most favored chords for pop and jazz guitar players alike. You may recognize it in songs by Bon Iver such as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, Fleetwood Mac’s Crossfire”, or in songs like the “World Without Wind” by David Grayson et al.
Am 7 is also known as Amin7 and is a minor seventh chord built using interval structures of 1b3, 5 and 7.
There are various approaches to playing Am7 depending on your level of expertise and chord progressions you use. Experiment with each version until you find one you prefer the best.
3. Cm7
Cm7 chord is an energetic funk chord, ideal for adding swing to 12 bar blues progressions – you can hear this example in Kool and the Gang’s wedding classic “Celebration”.
This barre chord is based on an Am7 open chord shape without its sixth string; therefore, you only need to skip one string with your thumb for easy finger playing and greater bass on the high E string. This makes playing it much simpler.
Like other diatonic 7th chords, this chord follows an interval structure of 1m3 5b7. While this makes it slightly harder than some of its catfish shapes to play, practice is sure to help!
4. Dm7
Dm7 chord is an advanced variation of Dm, sounding particularly sophisticated when used in genres such as jazz, funk, or soul music. Playing it may require additional practice due to barring the second fret with pinky finger which could ultimately result in muting of 6th string.
Variations on these chords include Dm9 which adds an E note, and Dm7b5 which keeps D but changes bass F to F. These will require slightly more stretching from beginners, though with enough practice most can easily navigate them.
5. D7sus4
A D dominant seventh suspended fourth chord with a G in the bass is often employed in acoustic tunings like DADGAD (string 6 dropped to E, string 5 lowered a fifth, strings 2 and 1 raised half step) for creating quartal and quintal chords – and especially its version featuring G is quite striking.
Nick Drake uses this chord on Cello Song (capoed at the sixth fret) and Three Hours; additionally it serves as the opening chord in Martin Simpson’s popular tune Follow Through.
6. D6add9
D6add9 chord is an engaging one for many reasons, not least its original sound. As an alterated dominant variation, this chord can help you craft some highly original voicings.
At 0:41 he uses B mel minor over D6add9. This choice was not random; rather it’s intended as an effective means of creating an unexpected yet interesting sound by superimposing another chord related to D6add9 and thus moving away from its monotonous tonality without abandoning it entirely.
Imagine this chord chart as your guitar fret board and neck (if you were standing up vertically with it). Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of D string 3rd string (D3) and strum all strings simultaneously.
7. E7
The E7 dominant seventh chord is one of the most versatile dominant seventh chords you can play, providing a deep bluesy sound suitable for many genres and songs. Constructed using scale degrees 1 through 5 on an E major scale but with its seventh note lowered by half step for dominance purposes, it creates an effective four-note dominant seventh chord.
To play this chord, fret your index finger on the 1st fret of G’s top string while leaving A’s fourth string open – you can then use your ring and pinky fingers to add different voicings of this chord voicings.