The Dominant 7th Chord

The Dominant 7th Chord is the most unstable chord compared to all the other chords. The presence of the tritones (F-B) that is found in it, makes it a very unstable chord. This chord has a tendency to always want to resolve to another chord,

It also has the most substitutions and alterations compared to the other chord types.

The basic chord is built using intervals of a major3rd, min3rd and a min3rd.

Most of the alterations or extensions like the b9 's, #9 's b5's sharp 5's #9 b9 all happens on this chord.

Construct G Dominant 7th chord

Referring to the chord chart measure 1 begins with a basic G7 chord, which is the V7(G7) chord in the key of C Major.

To form the basic G7 chord the Intervals of a Maj3rd + a min3rd + a min3rd are used to form the chord.

In measure 4 the other intervals that help support the Chord are:

G-D=Per5th

G-F=min7th

B-F=dim5th

F-B=aug4th

Extensions that can be used on these chords are the b9 's, #9 's b5's sharp 5's (#9 b9) all happens on this chord.

Chord Scales that are applicable for the G7#9b9 chords are:

Half-Whole, Half-Whole, Half-Whole, Half-Whole, Scale

Whole-Half, Whole-half, Whole-half, Whole-half, Scale

Ab Melodic min Scale

For G7b5 chords use G7 whole tone scale or the G7 Augmented scale

For a plain G7 scale just use the C scale or (G mixolydian scale G A B C D E F# G).

V7 Chord Resolutions:

V7=1

G7=C

Ab7=Db

A7=D

Bb7=Eb

B7=E

C7=F

C#7b9=F#mi7

D7#9=Gmi7

Eb7#9b9=Abmi7

E7b9=Ami7

F7#9=Bbmi7

F#7b9=Bmi7

Summary of the Dominant 7th Chord

All dom7 chords are the best chords to approach with b9's, #9's, b13's b5's and all altered functions.

Depending on the required tonality using your imagination will really help a lot in these situations.

I personally like the whole-half and half-whole dim scales on dom 7th chords.

Practice these scales up and down the fret-board and practice pulling off the scales in any position.

These scales will open up many possibilities in your guitar playing.

So keep at it and practice practice practice.

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