https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/circle-of-5-ths-exercise-using-7th-chords-mandolin-beginner
Theory blah blah blah theory…WAIT! Theory can be FUN, and it is definitely USEFUL! This exercise helps develop our ears and works on our chop, too. And yes, we’ll learn some theory.
Great lesson! There are years worth of “learning as you go along” built into this lesson. It might take a few times for it to all sink in. I do like the natural delay and reverb in that corner.
Thumb wrappers unite!
I was literally just searching for a lesson on Mando 7th chords and bam! Just in time. Banjo Ben should work for FedEx. He always delivers! Super helpful lesson.
All I have ever seen is the Circle of Fifths chart, and no explanation, leaving me lost as usual. So after 40 years of playing, I finally get it. The “fifth” is really the “fourth.” Thanks again Ben! You’re the best!
I was wondering why the Gb7 resolved to B (I was expecting it to go to a Cb)… then I realized Cb and B are the same note. I’m just reminding others who might have gotten tripped up on this…like me.
“The only way to solve this problem is to go to the 4th interval”. So, my question is, should a dominant 7 always resolve to the 4 regardless of the chord that was played just before the dominant 7?
Great exercise… Helps learn the keyboard, stretch the fingers and move freely.
Great lesson, Ben. This was a superb way of using “The Circle” and 7th chords to build a fun fretboard skill challenge. It’s a great warmup drill as well. R/ Greg
It’s probably best not to quote me, lol. But seriously, no, 7th chords do NOT have to go to the 4th interval. Think about blues music. They often play the 4 chord as a 7th, and then go back to the 1 or onward to the 5 chord.
I found this lesson to be more intuitive when I played the progression backwards (starting with C7, C, then G7, etc.) It doesn’t sound as obvious where to go, but starting with familiar chords was helpful.
Yeah, that’s a good idea!
Gotcha. Thank you. I tend to overanalyze, and totally wind up in the weeds.