Ministry in the Music The Beginner’s Guide For Playing By Ear The 7 th Chord Progressions Larry Watlington,

2 Introduction The objective of this lesson is to introduce the Seventh (7 th) Chords and demonstrate how they are used in popular music. This lesson builds on scales and chords knowledge provided in earlier lessons. We will discuss the following concepts: Scale Review 7 th and Major 7 th Chord 1 -> 1 maj7th –> 1 7th –> Progression Apply this progression to a couple of songs Disclaimer If your desire is to play an instrument or become a better vocalist, it takes diligence, patience and a commitment to practice if you want to perfect your talent. I can personally attest that the fruit of your labor will be well worth the effort!

Scales Review A 1 Now let’s label each movement as a “whole-step” or a “half-step”. Remember, it takes two half steps to make a whole step. We are in the key of C, but this pattern works no matter what key you start with. Try it by picking any key and play using this pattern and you should here the perfect scale! Whole Step Half Step Whole Step Half Step DC C GFE B

Chords in a Scale (Key of C) 4 ScaleChord in the Key of C Chord TypeChords in their Natural Keys CC-E-GMajor (1)C-E-G DD-F-AMinor (2)D-F # -A EE-G-BMinor (3)E-G # -B FF-A-CMajor (4)F-A-C GG-B-DMajor (5)G-B-D AA-C-EMinor (6)A-C # -E BB-D-FDiminished (7)B-D # -F # Why are they Minors? Good Question! Because if we would play a D chord normally it would be D-F#-A. However, the scale or key of C dictates that the F note is played naturally and not sharp. Therefore it in effect is lowering the 3 rd (or F#) by a half-step making it a minor chord.

FABDC Using the 7th in a Progression EG BbBb Half-step down from the root is the Major 7 th Whole-step down from the root is the 7 th

FABDC 7th to the 4th Progression EG

Chords in a Scale (Key of C) 7 ScaleChord in the Key of C Chord TypeChords in their Natural Keys CC-E-G Major (1)C-E-G C maj7 C-E-G-B C7C7 C-E-G-B b DD-F-AMinor (2)D-F # -A EE-G-BMinor (3)E-G # -B FF-A-CMajor (4)F-A-C GG-B-DMajor (5)G-B-D AA-C-EMinor (6)A-C # -E BB-D-FDiminished (7)B-D # -F # Why are they Minors? Good Question! Because if we would play a D chord normally it would be D-F#-A. However, the scale or key of C dictates that the F note is played naturally and not sharp. Therefore it in effect is lowering the 3 rd (or F#) by a half-step making it a minor chord.

7 th Chords Annotations Chord annotations used when displayed C Maj- Play the C chord in its standard form (C-E-G) C maj7 – Adds the seventh note of the scale (B) into the chord (B-C-E-G) C 7 – Lowers the seventh note (B) by a half step (B b). The Chord becomes B b -C-E-G It is common on piano to not play the root of the chord as you play the seventh chords (B-E-G or B b -E-G) 8

C (1) C Maj7 Girl you are to me C 7 F (4) all that a woman should be Dm (2) F/G (4) And I dedicate my life F/G (4) A (1) To you always... Always Atlantic Starr

C (1) Open the eyes of my heart Lord C Maj7 Open the eyes of my heart F (4) Dm (2) I want to see you F/G (4/5) C (1) I want to see you Open The Eyes of My Heart Paul Baloche

The Power of Patterns God established patterns through the Bible. The firmament - For seasons, days and years (Gen 1:4) The Ark - The pattern of salvation (Gen 4:15-18, Heb 11:7 ) The Tabernacle - Divine pattern of things in Heaven (Heb 8:5) Jesus Christ - The pattern of longsuffering unto those who believe (1 Tim 1:16) In similar fashion, music is based on patterns or “Progressions”. 11