of C this is a Bb.
you’re enhancing the music. Hundreds of hit But no matter where you place the flattened 7
songs over the years have used this simple major chord among the other six diatonics it will
Key of C – C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, [Bb] substitution of the flattened 7 major chord for sound completely at home. In fact, it will spice
Key of D – D, Em, F#m, G, A, Bm, [C] the 7 diminished. Once you become familiar up any standard song just by its inclusion.
Key of E – E, F#m, G#m, A, B, C#m, [D] with the sound, you will start to recognize it Key of G – G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, [F] every time it’s used.
Try playing around with adding it to the other
Key of A – A, Bm, C#m, D, E, F#m, [G]
Although
the
flattened
7
major
6 chords. You’ll like how it sounds, and you’ll
There are many ways to incorporate this new quickly realize that you’ve heard that type of
doesn’t addition to the chord family. One common way chord movement many times before in higher
technically belong in the diatonic family of is to place it between two of the same diatonic quality songs from well-respected writers. Give
chords, ever since the introduction of the blues, chords. This was one of the ways favored by it a try and see if you don’t immediately sound
it’s been adopted and included in hundreds The Beatles. For instance, in the key of C that more like a pro by the inclusion of this one little
of hit songs that would otherwise have been could be C-Bb-C or F-Bb-F or even Am-Bb- chord substitution.
limited to 5 or 6 predictable diatonics. The Am.
power of flattened 7 major chord in a major key
Enjoy!
is it gives you a 4 major chord to compose Another option is to use it at the start of a
with. In the key of C that would be C major, song section, possibly a bridge, giving the
F major, G major and the addition of a Bb song a much-needed lift at that point in the
major, and this makes a big difference! Try it for arrangement.
th
yourself.
On the other hand, when placed at the end of
If you are trained it music theory it may seem a verse section, it can create a sense of tension
like you are breaking the rules, but your that will be naturally resolved during the chorus.
ears will tell you something quite different…
March 2020
Dave Kelly
Dave has worked closely with many of the greatest
musical artists in the world, including Bob Dylan,
The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, Genesis and
Aerosmith. He is an award-winning recording artist
and songwriter (www.arktherockband.bandcamp.
com) and has recently completed the first volume
in the Secret of Songwriting Series entitled Secret
of Chords (www.secretofchords.com)
www.arktherockband.bandcamp.com
www.secretofchords.com
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