Here i will give the shapes for all 7th chords, in "drop 2" form, with inversions. This is so you can play the same chord up the neck, going through all inversions; and also be able to voice lead chords, without jumping all around the neck between chords. Just for practicality, they will all be C chords, so i dont have to put down the chord for all 12 possible notes. Do the math. Note: Inversions is the same chord, but with another note besides the root note in the bottom. 1st Inversion means 3rd in bass, 2nd means 5th in bass, and 3rd means 7th in bass.
C major 7:
xx2413 - 1st inversion
xx5557 - 2nd inversion
xx9988 - 3rd inversion
xx10 12 12 12 - Root Position
C dominant 7:
xx2313 - 1st inversion
xx5556 - 2nd inversion
xx8988 - 3rd inversion
xx10 12 11 12 - Root Position
C minor 7:
xx1313 - 1st inversion
xx5546 - 2nd inversion
xx8888 - 3rd inversion
xx10 12 11 11 - Root Position
C minor7b5 (half diminished):
xx1312 - 1st inversion
xx4546 - 2nd inverson
xx8878 - 3rd inversion
xx10 11 11 11 - Root position
C diminished 7 (fully) (this is ambiguous because it is symmetrical, so every inversion is the same shape):
xx1212 - 1st inversion
xx4545 - 2nd inversion
xx7878 - 3rd inversion
xx10 11 10 11 - Root Position
C augmented 7 (C7#5):
xx2314 - 1st inversion
xx6556 - 2nd inversion
xx8998 - 3rd inversion
xx10 13 11 12 - Root position
Someone is likely thinking right now, "How could i apply this". Ill give a random example. Ill take the beginning of the
chord progression to "autumn leaves", and voice it with these shapes. The chords are: C minor 7, F dominant 7, Bb major 7, Eb major 7, A minor7b5, D dominant 7, G minor 7. Heres one way i might approach playing it:
xx10 12 11 11, xx10 10 10 11, xx8 10 10 10, xx888 10, xx7888, xx7778, xx5766.
Notice how each chord smoothly trasnfers to the next with as little movement as possible, in a downward motion. With knowlege of these voicings, it makes playing through chords an easier task, without jumping around.
Now from where i left off on that last G minor 7 (xx5766), i could play the same chord sequence again, continuing downwards. It would continue like so:
xx5546, xx3545, xx3335, xx1333, xx1213, xx0212, x5536x.
Note: the last chord uses the middle 4 strings instead because i simply couldnt go down any further on the top 4. This might show one, how the exact same voicings can be applied to the middle 4 strings. I would go into that here, but if one is interested, just take the same forumulas and apply them there.
Well, hope someone cares about this. Peace.
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