Mastering 7th chords on ukulele can be both entertaining and essential to creating great sounding music. In this lesson we’ll take a closer look at D7 chord used often in songs like Elvis Presley’s Rockabilly classic That’s All Right.
A seventh chord is a triad with one note added one step above its root note, creating dissonance into the tonal landscape and should usually be resolved using falling fifth root motion.
E7
The E seventh chord is a dominant four-note chord consisting of a root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh notes, often used in songs by Ben E King such as his signature tune “Stand By Me” or Twenty One Pilots as in their track “Stressed Out”.
As with triads, seventh chords can always be identified by their closed spacing – even when doubled chords are present. If you need help recognizing these chords on the fretboard, use enharmonic equivalence as a resource.
Major seventh chords provide the next level up from diminished sevenths. Their sound is much softer and less dissonant than dominant seventh chords; yet still quite dissonant. Major sevenths are popularly used in jazz music as they add a relaxed, casual feel to your progressions.
D7
D7 chords are often found in country and mellow-rock music, providing an upbeat counterpoint to often melancholic melodies. As examples of its use in country songs, Bacharach & David’s “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” and Brad Paisley’s “Nervous Breakdown” by these iconic artists come to mind.
D-7 is a major seventh chord, meaning that its root note corresponds to the 7th note in its scale (C). Seventh chords can be constructed in various ways, but typically use tertian structures which consist of multiple major and minor thirds.
There are various D voicings you can use to form this chord, but the one in the picture below is one of the simplest. To play it, place your index finger on string 5, middle finger on string 3, and ring finger on string 2 with your index finger placed between strings 5 and 3, with ring finger placed over string 2. Additionally, you may barre the second fret for more complex sounds.
G7
G7, or the flat seventh chord, adds spice and dimension to any progression, giving music an edge that enhances listening experience. Although more challenging to play than its basic G major counterpart, G7 is extremely valuable and worth your efforts!
Seventh chords are a specialized type of triad which include an additional seventh interval above their root note. There are different kinds of seventh intervals such as major, minor, diminished, and augmented sevenths; most seventh chords found in Western music use four semitones of major thirds to construct it (tertian chord), though diminished and half-diminished sevenths also play an important part of jazz and just intonation music.
To play the ukulele G7 chord, form an F shape with your fingers as shown below. Place your first finger on string 2, fret 1 before adding second and third fingers to strings 3, frets 2 and 4, respectively. Strum this chord for two bars before stopping!
C7
C7 chords add spice and adventure to a progression. Their tension-building effects help create tension for listeners and give a sense of discovery; these chords work particularly well during transitions, short riffs or brief moments in music such as transitions. Remember that these chords tend to be used sparingly in jazz/improvisational music so for maximum effectiveness play them carefully!
C7 chord is made up of a D major triad with one note added a seventh above its root note; thus forming a dominant seventh chord.
The unsettling sound of the C7 chord can be heard on many pop classics, like The Supremes’ “Baby Love” and Eric Carmen’s “All by Myself.” Additionally, Hank Williams used this chord prominently in “Hey Good Lookin'”, one of his signature country hits that defined his legendary legacy.