Color Tones and Chords

For the core 4-part 7, maj7 and m7 the color tones are the third and seventh of the chords. The root or letter name of the chord and the fifth for these three chords are the same. Here are the notes of a 7, maj7 and m7 chord using C as the root for each:

• C7 is C E G Bb the 1 3 5 b7 of the C major scale*
• Cmaj7 is C E G B the 1 3 5 7 of the C major scale
• Cm7 is C Eb G Bb the 1 b3 5 b7 of the C major scale

As you can see the C and G are the same for all three chords and don't actually contribute to the color of the chord.

For the remaining three of the big six chords: the half-diminished seventh (m7b5), diminished seventh (dim7) and augmented seventh (aug7) chords all but the root contribute to the color of the chord.

• Cm7b5 is C Eb Gb Bb of the C major scale
• Cdim7 is C Eb Gb Bbb of the C major scale
• C+7 is C E G# Bb of the C major scale

• The names of the notes of any chord can be derived from the major scale based on the chord's root.

Exploring Color Tones

From the four voicings of the 7, maj7 and m7 chords in the Big Six series of lessons find and only play the thirds and sevenths of the chords - the color tones.

As you might be able to figure out – knowing the names of the notes in ALL your chords and the notes of the fingerboard will go a long way when exploring this approach to chords. You pretty much can not apply any of this without knowing the notes of the fingerboard and at a minimum the 15 major scales.