Book 1 · Chapter 5 · Seventh chords

Seventh Chord Builder

Write a verse and a chorus with seventh chords. Play it. Then turn the sevenths on and off and hear what each one adds.

1Pick a key

Drawn like you are facing David while he plays.

The other spots: vi is 3 frets behind I. iii is 1 fret behind IV. Same in both patterns.

2Choose your sevenths

I and IV = Major 7
V = Dominant 7
ii, iii and vi = Minor 7

From your book: you do not have to make every chord a seventh. Turn one on, listen, then turn the next one on.

3Write your verse

Start on I
End on IV or V
David's rule: each chord only once

4Write your chorus

Start on IV, V or vi
Not the chord the verse ended on
Chords can come back
End on IV or V

Finish your verse first.

5Play your song

Verse twice, then the chorus, then end on I.

✕ = mute with your left hand. On beat 4, start moving to the next chord.

80BEATS/MIN

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