If you’re adept with barre chords, you might be amazed at how easily open string chord shapes move up the neck. This provides a great opportunity to discover new sounds while also decreasing finger movement.
As seen in the video lesson, you’ll learn to create an alluring major seventh chord pattern by muted string 2 and only using pointer and ring fingers to play it. Give it a try and experience its beauty!
Major Triads
Triads are a basic chord group found across all major keys. Consisting of three notes–a root note, major third and perfect fifth–they form the starting point for any key, while their counterparts located one to three half-tones above and below provide support and balance.
Figure 1 depicts an example of a chord in first position which begins on E and contains both a major third on its bottom note and perfect fifth above it, making its tone major.
Knowing these basic triads can be useful in mapping out the fretboard’s major scale degrees, finding new ways to play chord progressions and inspiring creative improvisations. Furthermore, these shapes can also be used to craft distinctive rhythm guitar voicings such as those seen in Examples 3 and 4.
Minor Triads
Triads can be an invaluable way to expand your guitar playing, helping to form chord progressions and arpeggios on the instrument. Songwriters sometimes even employ triads as modulation between keys in songs! Experiment using open minor triads in progressions while adding effects like delays and reverbs for texture in your playing style.
The following diagrams are all shown in close position; however, to fully grasp their movements on a fretboard you should practice them across all strings as well. Remember that inversions may alter root note placement while keeping their basic triad shape intact.
Triads constructed starting on different white notes will sound quite differently due to the semitones (half tones) separating them. When creating such triads, pay particular attention to chord tones – these should be your focal points when building these triads! Additionally, keep in mind that these structures can either be open or closed shapes depending on where you place the root note.
Major Sevenths
The major seventh chord is an interval spanning eleven semitones and is one of two frequently employed seventh chords in music. It creates more complex and rich tonality than simple triads and adds tension to your pieces.
Minor seventh chords can add an interesting, jazzy texture to your pieces. This chord is created by taking a diminished triad and adding a minor seventh (10 semitones above the root). For instance, in C minor seventh chord this would contain C-Eb-G-Bb (Bb being double flat).
This chord requires both left and right hand fingerings to achieve optimal results, giving an added sense of strength and power to any musical work, such as at the conclusion of an impressive cadence. To play, just lower the fifth by half step from C to B and play as usual.
Minor Sevenths
If you already know how to play a minor triad, adding a flat 7th note shouldn’t take much extra work – just be wary not to finger the flat 3rd too high because this could result in fret buzz!
This chord type can be found in all kinds of music from modern rock and blues to romantic ballads by composers like Claude Debussy such as Claire De Lune. It gives chords an interesting and captivating sound and will add dimension to your chord progressions.
This chord type is composed of chords based on the first degree of both harmonic and melodic minor scales, known as minor major seventh chords, or root, minor third (b3), fifth plus major seventh (7) chords arranged as an open fifth in its formula form. Although dissonant at first listen, these dissonant chords can sound quite cool given the right musical context.