[richardw]

Hi Kirk,

I have a question, it’s about chords progression and scales.
I have a song of muse and he uses the chord b7. I have learned from you that it’s a chord with 4 tones. The tones must be 1 (root) 3, 5 and flat 7 ( I hope I’m right). The song is played in the key E (major). And now I was looking if I can find out how the chord was build up out of the scale. But I am not sure in witch scale I have to look. This is what I have:
Scale E (major):
E(1) f#(2) g#(3) A(4) B(5) c#(6) d#(7)

Scale B (major)
B(1) c#(2) d#(3) E(4) F#(5) g#(6) a#(7)

The chord b7 consist out (in this song)
B D# A B F#

B7
E |---------------|2--------------|---------------|2--------------|
B|--------0------|----0----------|--------0------|----0----------|
G|------------2--|--------2------|------------2--|--------2------|
D|----1----------|------------1--|----1----------|------------1--|
A |2--------------|---------------|2--------------|---------------|
E |---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|

If I look into the scale of E than I’ll find this:
B(5) D#(7) A(4) B(5) F#(2)
But that’s a little bit strange cause it have to be a B(major)7

And if I look into the scale of B than I’ll find:
B(1) D#(3) A(Flat 7) B(1) F#(5)
So that’s the most logic situation.

So my question is: do you have to build a chord out of his own key scale (like here the B scale) ore do you have to build it from the key of the whole play (so that will be the E scale)
And an other question is: if I play the B7 chord it wants to resolve into the E chord. It’s asking for the E chord. How come??? If by my question before the answer is the scale of B, what kind of link do he has with the E chord. And if that answer is the scale of E, ok than I understand that he wants to go to his home (the E chord) the number 1 of the scale.
:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

I hope I am clear with my question. I live in the Netherlands and my English is not very good. So if you don’t understand something feel free to ask

p.s I love your site, I learn a lot of your lessons so thank you very much.

[Kirk Lorange]

Hi richardw.

I've read and reread your post and I find it a bit difficult to follow, but I do get an idea of what you're asking.

Chords are built from one scale, the key scale. So if we're talking about E, all 7 chords that are in the key of E will come from that one scale, using the simple formula of selection that is on page http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/chords.html

The E scale is:
E F# G# A B C# D# E

In E, the V chord (Five Chord) is B7. It comes from the E major scale. Its notes are B D# F#. A four-note chord requires that you add the next candidate to the triad. That note will be 'A', again, following the formula.

In the context of B, though, A is not the real 7. The 'real' 7 of B is A#. So the chord must be named B7, not Bmajor7.

In the context of the key of E, the B chord's scale is the Mixolydian Mode. In other words, starting and ending the E scale at B, you wind up with another scale; it's identical to the mother scale except that the 7 is flat. So, instead of:

T T st T T T st (the major scale), you get
T T st T T st T.

THAT'S where the flat seven comes from.

That descibes one mode, the V chord mode, the Mixolydian mode. It's just the major scale's intervals starting at a different root. There are 7 modes, naturally.

My advice is to get an understanding of what modes are, but don't get hung up on them. They tend to take care of themselves as long as you're aware of the 'mother scale', the I chord's scale.

I hope this helps a bit.

[richardw]

Ok,

This helps.
I am now sure that the key is E and that all the chords are build up from the key scale. But there is one thing a little bit unclear. :?
You say:

In E, the V chord (Five Chord) is B7. It comes from the E major scale. Its notes are B D# F#. A four-note chord requires that you add the next candidate to the triad. That note will be 'A', again, following the formula.

Why is the V chord (Five Chord) B7??? Because it uses the 7th note in the scale of E? But if you look from the B it’s only the 3 note.

Thanx for trying to understand the question I asked. Even when it was a difficult to understand.

I am a little late with a reaction on your replay cause I was on a holyday.

[Kirk Lorange]

No, the 7th note is counting from B, not E. So B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A*.

A plain old B chord requires 3 notes: B-D#-F#

If you extend that chord (in the key of E) you must add the next avaiable alternate note to that: A. That note makes the B chord a B7.

If you were in the key of B, and you extend the chord in that key (which is the I chord), then you'd have to add a Bb note (the 7th note of the B scale) and you wind up with a BMaj7.

Now I've really confused you! That's how it works though, and that's where dominant 7th chords come from.

*These 'scales within scales', starting to count from notes OTHER than the 1 are 'the modes'. The V chord's mode is the Mixolydian. It's just like a major scale, only the 7 is flat.

[richardw]

Now I've really confused you!

No,

it's all clear now
this will help a lot to understand the workings of music

thank you verry much

no further quistions :arrow: 8)

[richardw]

I just tried some 7’s in different keys on my guitar and then back to the 1 chord of that key and its sounds good. It’s really pulling to that first chord. The relation of chords in a specified key is a wonderful thing!!

i am so happy