need help learning chords

[InFlames]

im at a loss on how to master chords. iv been learning them as in Amajor Amajor7 A7th A9 Aminor but i dont understand how i would use them. then a friend of mine recommended that i learn the chords that are in keys. does any1 have any suggestions? or a cool trick to help me out

[Mike Edwin]

Hey, I moved this thread becasue it seemed more of a theory related question.

You raised two questions. How do I use them, and How do I master/learn them.

I will stick with 'learning' because using them is more easily taught with a demonstration, you also need to be listening.

So anyway. If your familiar with your basic chord construction techniques, building these other chords can be quite simple.

Take something like a CMaj7

x
5 <third
4 <seventh
5 <fifth
3 <root
x

If you count up the C major scale in this position C=1 D=2 E=3 F=4 ect.. you will see each note corresponds with the degrees I labeled them with on the tab. Asside from the third, which has been raised one octave.

Now if we look again at the third. and drop just that note by a whole step. We wind up with the 2nd/9th degree of the scale in its place. Like so.

x
3 <9th <<<<<
4 <7th
5 <5th
3 <root
x

This is now a Cmaj9



Lets look at the 7th now. Assuming we want to change it from a Cmaj7 to a C7. As long as we know that the difference between a Cmaj7 and a C7 is the 7th degree. ( Maj7 = 7th degree of a major scale. Dominant7 = b7 degree of the major scale. ) We can flatten that 7 by 1 semi tone.

We wind up altering it like so.

C7

x
5 <3rd
3 < b7th
5 <5th
3 <root
x

Before I continue, let me know if this is where you were headed with the question. These simple alterations are a common way to learn your chord extensions. It is important that your familiar with the relevant scale degrees though.

Mike.

[InFlames]

Hey mike. great explenation.

but my question was not worded right. i aplogize. i was running late and typed it fast.

anyways i understand how to build chords but what im having trouble with is memorizing all the different chords and there shapes. i have a few down. But this weekend i focused on learning the chords by keys. i started with C and would learn chords in c major and minor scale. then i switced to another scale (d). i ended up doing about 5 keys. It worked. the chords i focused on where major7th minor 7th, 7th and major9th. and i also learned the dimished chords. i think dimished sounds really really ugly. i primarly play rock (although lately iv been playing a kind of funky rock jazz). can i replace a dimished chord for a major or minor chord in a chord progression. say my progression was I-IV-VII. could i use a major VII instead of a dimished VII?

[Mike Edwin]

Diminished chords in Rock music are rare.

Using a vii chord in a Major progression is also rare.

If you have a chord progression that intends to use chord 7, odds are it will be in a minor key. If you are playing in a minor key though. Using a chord other than the diminished, such as the Major, could sound quite out of place.

It really depends though. If your using it in a particular way and it sounds alright to your ears. There is no reason not to use it.

[Mike Edwin]

As for your I-IV-VII progression. I can only assume it is in a minor key. Which would make a bit more sense written as ii-V-i. In which case the dim chord is required in my opinion.

Could you make a recording of what your talking about possibly?