LESSON FOUR 7TH CHORDS- CHORD SHELLS/LH VOICING FORMULAS
Study the scale degrees for the major, dominant, minor7th, and dim7th chords.
CMaj 7
Study the scale degrees for the major, dominant, minor7th, and dim7th chords.
CMaj 7
C7
Cm7
Cdim7
With the notes numbered and identified we are ready for the formulas. There are formulas for the VOICINGS of the LEFT HAND and RIGHT HAND. I’ll introduce a common LEFT HAND formula.
FORMULA
LH RH
I -7 (As a rule play the 7th with the thumb)
FORMULA
LH RH
I -7 (As a rule play the 7th with the thumb)
I’m going to borrow a chart that is free to share from Jazz Edge found in the Piano Success Playbook.
In the chart, study the 7ths vertically. The 7th chords have been reduced and only the shell of the chord is left. The 5th is entirely omitted while the 3rd is played in the RH. The VOICING omits the 5th because it is unessential to the harmony and the ear does a good job interpreting the function of the chord without it.
In the chart, study the 7ths vertically. The 7th chords have been reduced and only the shell of the chord is left. The 5th is entirely omitted while the 3rd is played in the RH. The VOICING omits the 5th because it is unessential to the harmony and the ear does a good job interpreting the function of the chord without it.
Practice the LH 1-7 voicing from notation and the keyboard illustrations:
|
Cmaj7 |
|
C7 and Cm7 |
|
Cdim7 |