Beginning Bass 13: Diatonic 7th Chords
By Roy Vogt
Bass Instructor, Belmont University 		Print This Lesson
Roy Vogt. Since we dealt with diatonic triads last month, I'm going to add one note on top of each of the triads and create diatonic 7th chords. If you play piano at all (even in self-defense like I do), you can find middle C on the piano and just place your fingers on alternating white keys. As you move up you get this diatonic progression:

C-E-G-B=C major 7
D-F-A-C=D minor 7
E-G-B-D=E minor 7
F-A-C-E=F major 7
G-B-D-F=G 7
A-C-E-G=A minor 7
B-D-F-A=B minor 7 b5 or B half-diminished

In Roman Numerals this would be Imaj7-iim7-iiim7-IVmaj7-V7-vim7-viim7(b5). The pattern is the same no matter what key you are in. I've written and tabbed the basic chords out in F and Bb. I've also included a non-tabbed study in C. Note that you can use the G fingerings for the C scale, just move over one string to the A string.

Another trick I used on the C study is to connect the chords by R-3-5-7 to 7-5-3-R of the next chord (i.e. C-E-G-B to C-A-F-D). This makes for a smoother voice leading and can be used in soloing since the line doesn't always start on the root.

Have fun with all of this and next month we'll work with some music that uses this concept.

Peace and Low Notes,
Roy C. Vogt
Nashville Bassist
Bass Instructor, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

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