Jazz Theory/Concepts - #1
Basic 7th Chords
Recap
Learn how to play basic 7th chords, including major, dominant, minor, and minor7(b5) and how to read chord symbols, in this beginning jazz piano lesson on what are seventh chords to get started with jazz.
Learning your chord formulas and knowing how to construct 7th chords is important for you to be able to read and play jazz charts. Because unlike classical music, the exact notation is not written out for you- you are only provided with the basic skeleton of the chord and you must create the voicings. This is a fairly elementary concept, but must be internalized. The following lesson is probably the MOST IMPORTANT jazz piano lesson in getting started, diatonic harmony. However, a sense of your chords is important in order to understand diatonic harmony.
Joe Pass, legendary jazz guitarist, notably said that there are only 3 types of chord families: Major, Minor, and Dominant. Every chord falls under one of those 3 categories. We look at a 4th chord, as well, minor 7 flat 5, which technically can be categorized under minor. But having a working knowledge of these 4 chords will help you gain facility with the jazz language. We also look at how to read the chord symbols of these basic 7th chords.
Learning your chord formulas and knowing how to construct 7th chords is important for you to be able to read and play jazz charts. Because unlike classical music, the exact notation is not written out for you- you are only provided with the basic skeleton of the chord and you must create the voicings. This is a fairly elementary concept, but must be internalized. The following lesson is probably the MOST IMPORTANT jazz piano lesson in getting started, diatonic harmony. However, a sense of your chords is important in order to understand diatonic harmony.
Joe Pass, legendary jazz guitarist, notably said that there are only 3 types of chord families: Major, Minor, and Dominant. Every chord falls under one of those 3 categories. We look at a 4th chord, as well, minor 7 flat 5, which technically can be categorized under minor. But having a working knowledge of these 4 chords will help you gain facility with the jazz language. We also look at how to read the chord symbols of these basic 7th chords.
Chord Name/Symbol
|
Chord Formula(1) (3) (5) (7)
(1) (3) (5) (b7) (1) (b3) (5) (b7) (1) (b3) (b5) (b7) |
Example (in the key of C Maj)CMaj7- C E G B
C7 - C E G Bb Cmin7- C Eb G Bb Cmin7(b5)- C Eb Gb Bb |
Definitely check out the following lesson, the MOST IMPORTANT jazz piano lesson: Diatonic Harmony