B7

i'm also a big fan of that B7 chord. i can't say why, but i think its a sweet sound when i'm strumming those open chords on my acoustic. great post, and i can't wait to go home and try your progression.

Yes it is a nice sounding chord. It was also one that I had a bit of trouble with when I was starting out.

Caus, i also had trouble with that chord. it forced me to practice it so much that maybe thats why my ear developed such an appreciation for it.

The Doobie Brothers used something similar in the song "Long Train Running" - Gm7 - 10 10 12 10 11 10 and F13 - 10 10 10 10 10 10. Those movable chords with the open strings look fun - I'm a sucker for slightly unusual voicings like those.

:D :D :D

Vic

I recorded the song I wrote that uses this for the intro:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=725941&songID=5635273

I have always loved the B7 chord, for me it has always been a very easy chord to fret. I guess everybody is different.

It does have a cool Blues tone to it and what is especially great is that it can be moved up the fingerboard easily to play additional 7 chords.

But what I am surprised that is rarely mentioned is that this form also works a string above. :D

Just transfer all fingers up one string and you are still playing 7th chords.



F#7 G7 A7 B7 C7 D7 E7 (Root on E string)
e--X--X--X--X--X---X---X---
b--2--3--5--7--8--10--12---
g--X--X--X--X--X---X---X---
d--2--3--5--7--8--10--12---
a--1--2--4--6--7---9--11---
e--2--3--5--7--8--10--12---


Next time you play a Blues progression, try this form like this:


Ab7A7 Ab7A7 Db7D7 Db7D7 Eb7E7Eb7E7 A7
e--X--X---X-X---4/-5--4-5-----6/-7--6-7-----X--
b--4/-5---4-5---X--X--X-X-----X--X--X-X-----5--
g--X--X---X-X---4/-5--4-5-----6/-7--6-7-----X--
d--4--5---4-5---3/-4--3-4-----5/-6--5-6-----5--
a--3/-4---3-4---4/-5--4-5-----6/-7--6-7-----4--
e-—4/-5---4-5-------------------------------5--

With the B7 form, when moving up the neck mute the B string with the ring finger. With the form with the Root note on the 6th string, use the ring finger to mute the G string, the pinky to mute the high E string.

This is also a great substitute chord for those folks who hate barre chords. :wink:

Wes, thanks for the tip! after all the practicing ive done, thats a pretty easy chord form for me now, and im looking forward to applying it to the low E string. dont know why thats never occurred to me before.

GuitarHack

You're welcome. :D

Truth is, I've never really seen this form mentioned with the root on the E string. I am sure Jazz players are familiar with it. I like chords like this, I find simple barred Major and Minor chords kind of plain and ordinary sounding. Playing forms like this skipping over strings gives chords a hollow Jazz like tone which I like. They are more colorful. And they are super-easy to slide around. :wink:

i also get bored sometimes with the typical barre chords. speaking of more jazzy sounding chords and rooting them on the low E, can you tell me what this chord would be? starting on the low E....5 X 5 6 5 X. i saw that movable shape somewhere and i really like it.

A, G, C#, E makes A7. If you look at it, this is just the standard E shape A7 barre chord (575655) with the A and E strings muted.

GuitarHack

That is also an A7 chord, you have the Root A, flatted 7th G, the 3rd C#, and the 5th E. That is a 7th chord.

You can also move that shape down a string but it will be a Minor 7th with the root on the A string. :wink:

Sam, thanks. youre right, its really simple once you look at it!

Wes, thanks also. i really need to start learning what makes a chord a 7th, minor, etc. thanks guys.

Yeah, these chords are simple, and I have always liked fretting four notes with four fingers avoiding barres. I can play barres, but these chords are so comfortable to hold and easy to move around. And they do not sound as plain as barre chords that everybody seems to play.