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Author Topic: The V7 Chord (Part I - Root Position + Extensions)  (Read 1354 times)

Offline darkwing

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The V7 Chord (Part I - Root Position + Extensions)
« on: September 22, 2006, 11:13:33 PM »
The V7 chord is the most versatile of all chords.  There are more alterations that can be made to it than any other chord.  This is the most important chord to master, because it is the strongest tension chord.  This means that the chord wants to resolve (usually to the I).

We'll use the V7 in the key of C (which is G7) for our examples.

G7 in root position is:  G B D F

The first thing to do is learn this chord in all inversions:
G B D F
B D F G
D F G B
F G B D

Ok, that's enough boring voicings!  One more thing before we get to the alterations - the extensions.

First is the 9 (which is A in our example).  We would call this the 2 if we weren't including the 7.  Let's look at rootless G9 voicings:
G / B D F A
G / D F A B
G / F A B D
G / A B D F

Next is the 11.  Many people mistake this for a suspension, but by calling it the 11 we are implying that the 3 is still played (we are still implying that the 7 is included, but not necessarily the 9).  The V11 chord is a challenging chord to voice because of the conflicting 3 and 11, which are only a half step apart.  I will not touch on these voicings at this time.

The last extension is the 13 commonly miscalled the 6, but by calling it the 13 we are implying that the 7 is played (only when we mean to exclude the 7 do we call it a 6...So many rules :) ).  Here are some voicings to get you started:
G D F / B E G
G E / B D F

The 9 and 13 are usually combined as in the following rootless examples:
G / F A B E
G / A B E F
G / B E F A
G / E F A B

Part II will discuss V7 chord alterations.
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Offline sjonathan02

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Re: The V7 Chord (Part I - Root Position + Extensions)
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2006, 12:05:49 PM »
Great post.
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Offline PianoWizard

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Re: The V7 Chord (Part I - Root Position + Extensions)
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2006, 03:16:50 PM »
Thanks for the post "darkwing"...... :)

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Offline flojo4jc

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Re: The V7 Chord (Part I - Root Position + Extensions)
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2006, 03:51:52 PM »
Thanks for this post; its VERY helpful! 

  I will not touch on these voicings at this time.

PLEASE do  :)

The last extension is the 13 commonly miscalled the 6, but by calling it the 13 we are implying that the 7 is played (only when we mean to exclude the 7 do we call it a 6...So many rules :) ).  Here are some voicings to get you started:
G D F / B E G
G E / B D F

You mind if I ask you some clarifying questions?

I've heard that the 11th builds on the 7th and 9th and the 13th builds on the 7th, 9th, and 11th .  Can you do that or is it just not a good idea?

At what point do you decide to do a rootless voicing in the right hand, when you have at least 5 different notes to play (9th, 11th, 13th)?

Finally, should the root always be on the bottom? (I'm guessing it probably should because otherwise it would become a totally different chord, right?)

And when you have multiple notes such as in the 13th chord above, how do you decide where to place the notes along the octave?

The 9 and 13 are usually combined as in the following rootless examples:
G / F A B E
G / A B E F
G / B E F A
G / E F A B

Finally, can you do other combinations, such as 11 and 9, or 11 and 13?

LOTS of questions, I know, but your post really got me thinking... thanks :)
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Offline darkwing

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Re: The V7 Chord (Part I - Root Position + Extensions)
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2006, 04:24:21 PM »
You're asking all the right questions!  These are incredible!


Q:  I've heard that the 11th builds on the 7th and 9th and the 13th builds on the 7th, 9th, and 11th .  Can you do that or is it just not a good idea?
A:  I think you're asking whether or not the lower extension(s) are required to be in the chord.  For example, "Am I required to play the 9th in a G11?  The answer is, "No, it is allowed, but not required."

Q:  At what point do you decide to do a rootless voicing in the right hand, when you have at least 5 different notes to play (9th, 11th, 13th)?
A:  If I have a solid bass player, then I try to play more rootless voicings (especially in the left hand, since it is free from playing bass, thus allowing the right hand more freedom).

Q:  Should the root always be on the bottom? (I'm guessing it probably should because otherwise it would become a totally different chord, right?)
A:  Not necessarily.  The root is definitely not required If you have a bass player.  You can even get away with it (especially on V7 chords because the 3rd and 7th dictate strongly that it is a V7 chord).

Q:  And when you have multiple notes such as in the 13th chord above, how do you decide where to place the notes along the octave?
A:  Trial and error, Trial and error, Trial and error, etc.  That's the fun of it.  There is a great book on II-V7-I voicings called "Stylistic II-V7-I's...", by Luke Gillespie if you can read sheet music.

Q:  Finally, can you do other combinations, such as 11 and 9, or 11 and 13?
A:  Absolutely.  Hmmm...maybe in a future post...
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