One of the pros of guitar is the visualization tools inherent in the instrument. We have one shape or one pattern and we change the root note and BAM! we have a brand new chord or scale. The hard part is relating theory to the guitar with these shapes or patterns.

The purpose of this lesson is to take the “E Shape” (6th String Barre Chords) and “A Shape” (5th String Barre Chords) and figure out where our 7th chord chord tones are. The big take away is:

E Shape:
1 – 5 – 7 – 3 – 5 – 1

A Shape:
1 – 5 – 7 – 3 – 5

Compared to my Triad video (linked below), we have to take an extra 1 and replace it with the 7th. Note I’m careful not to say “flat” the 1. While the 7th is a half step before the 1, we’re not flatting anything, we’re actually introducing a new note to it.

So I could’ve chosen the 1st string to add the 7th, but we tend to find it more commonly on the 4th string.

Now we can see how we build all of our other 7th chords by actually seeing each note change compared to the original Major 7th. Dig!

Major 7: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7
Dominant 7: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7
Minor 7: 1 – b3 – 5 – b7
Minor 7 b5: 1 – b3 – b5 – b7

-Related Lessons-

:18 – Visualize Chord Tones – E and A Shapes | Triads
:25 – Building Chords?! | UGT 2/8
:30 – Extended (7 9 11 13) Chords?! | UGT 3/8
1:19 – Barred 7th Chords
1:36 – 6th String Barre Chords | BO 9/10
2:10 – Extended (7 9 11 13) Chords?! | UGT 3/8
4:23 – 5th String Barre Chords | BO 10/10
5:41 – Major 7 Arpeggios
6:28 – Dominant 7 Inversions (Whole Neck!)
6:34 – Minor 7 Arpeggios

PDF’s

Visualize Chord Tones – 7th Chords PDF (E-A), Theory, 7th Chords, Open/Barre/Sus Chords, Extended Chords, 7th Arpeggio Shapes, Dominant 7 Inversions

Play Alongs & Backing Tracks