More of this Feature • Part 1: overview • Part 3: major chords • Part 4: strumming patterns • Part 5: learning songs

Until this point, we have only learned major and minor barre chords on the sixth and fifth strings. Although we can play thousands of songs using only these chord shapes, there are many more types of chords available to us. Let's have a look at various types of seventh barre chords... (of course you'll need to know the names of notes on sixth and fifth strings).

Major Seventh Chords

Written as, using the note "C" as an example, Cmaj7, or Cmajor7, or sometimes CM7. To the unfamiliar ear, the major seventh chord might sound a little unusual. Used in the proper context, however, it's a colorful, rather common chord.
The chord shape with the root on the sixth string is actually not a barre chord, although it is usually labelled as such. Play with your first finger on sixth string, third finger on fourth string, fourth finger on third string, and second finger on second string. Be careful not to let the fifth, or first strings ring. TIP: try letting your first finger lightly touch the fifth string, so it doesn't ring.
Playing the chord with the fifth string root involves barring strings five through one with your first finger. Your third finger goes on fourth string, second finger on third string, and fourth finger on second string. Be sure to avoid playing the sixth string.
PRACTICE IDEA: pick a random note (eg: Ab) and try playing that note's major seventh chord on both the sixth string (fourth fret) and the fifth string (11th fret).

(Dominant) Seventh Chords

Although technically referred to as a "dominant seventh" chord, this type of chord is often just referred to as just a "seventh" chord. Written as, using the note "A" as an example, Adom7, or A7. This type of chord is extremely common in all types of music.
To play the sixth string shape, barre all six strings with your first finger. Your third finger plays the note on the fifth string, while your second finger plays note on third string. Check to make sure the note on fourth string is sounding - this is the toughest note to get to ring clearly.
Play the fifth string shape by barring strings five through one with your first finger. Your third finger goes on fourth string, while your fourth finger plays note on second string. Be careful not to play sixth string.

Minor Seventh Chords

Written as, using the note "Bb" as an example, Bbmin7, or Bbm7, or sometimes Bb-7.
To play the sixth string shape, barre all six strings with your first finger. Your third finger plays the note on the fifth string. Check to make sure all strings are ringing clearly.
Play the fifth string shape by barring strings five through one with your first finger. Your third finger goes on fourth string, while your second finger plays note on second string. Be careful not to play sixth string.

Practice Ideas

There are six unfamiliar shapes above, so it will assuredly take a while to get these under your fingers. Try playing some or all of the following chord progressions. Choose any strumming pattern you feel comfortable with.

• Bbmaj7 - Gmin7 - Cmin7 - F7
• Dmin7 - Gmin7 - Bb7 - A7
• C7 - F7 - C7 - G7

Try playing these chords in a variety of different ways - all on sixth string, all on fifth string, and a combination of both. There are a large number of possible ways to play each chord progression above. You can also try making your own chord progressions with seventh chords. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Next page > Major chord inversions > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5