Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

Sune

Sune

New member
I'm in the middle of arranging a pretty known danish track as a chord solo on my ukulele, however I ran into a problem. I have a 7th chord, and as you know, the seventh chord is the root, 3rd, 5th and minor 7th, however, seen as I only have 4 strings, and I have to play the melody note simultaneously with the chord, I have to try and remove one note from the chord, and still make it sound kinda like a 7th chord, can I do that? I remember reading once that you can remove a certain note that doesn't play any determinating role in the chord, but which one is this? The 5th, isn't it?
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

yeah, the 5th probably has the least harmonic information ... the root would be next ... the 3 and 7 really determine the flavor
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

tone4days said:
yeah, the 5th probably has the least harmonic information ... the root would be next ... the 3 and 7 really determine the flavor
Click to expand...

That's what I thought, I wanted to ask before I was sure though, so thanks. Perhaps I'll record my little version of this danish classic when I finish the arrangement. ;)
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

You can always omit the 5th on any chord! Unless the chord has an altered 5th as in C7+ and C7b5 the the fifth is not harmonically important. Even under those circumstances other instruments may be playing the fifth so nobody will miss it if you omit it.

Keep in mind that the fifth if heard by the listener even when its not played because of the overtone series when maj & min triad based harmonies are being used. If you play C E C or C E B on the piano and listen really closely you would swear that you could hear the G!
 
Last edited:
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

Osensei said:
You can always omit the 5th on any chord! Unless the chord has an altered 5th as in C7+ and C7b5 the the fifth is not harmonically important. Even under those circumstances other instruments may be playing the fifth so nobody will miss it if you omit it.

Keep in mind that the fifth if heard by the listener even when its not played because of the overtone series when maj & min triad based harmonies are being used. If you play C E C or C E B on the piano and listen really closely you would swear that you could hear the G!
Click to expand...

That's cool, I really don't know that much about theory so that's why I ask ;)
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

Sune said:
I'm in the middle of arranging a pretty known danish track as a chord solo on my ukulele, however I ran into a problem. I have a 7th chord, and as you know, the seventh chord is the root, 3rd, 5th and minor 7th, however, seen as I only have 4 strings, and I have to play the melody note simultaneously with the chord, I have to try and remove one note from the chord, and still make it sound kinda like a 7th chord, can I do that? I remember reading once that you can remove a certain note that doesn't play any determinating role in the chord, but which one is this? The 5th, isn't it?
Click to expand...

I'd remove the 7th because the song can survive without it. That's just me. So if it was a G7 (G B D F) you can remove the F.
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

I'm strongly thinking about starting to play piano with a teacher. Actually the only thing that might stop me from doing it, is if it's too expensive, but in a couple of days I'll know (I don't think it will be too expensive though, so I'll most likely start playing piano soon ;) ). It'll be really exciting, and I guess that if I know the theory for playing piano, I would basically know all there is to know, wouldn't I?
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

TwinReverb said:
I'd remove the 7th because the song can survive without it. That's just me. So if it was a G7 (G B D F) you can remove the F.
Click to expand...

If you remove the 7th, it is no longer a 7th chord. I agree with the guys who said the 5th....it would be the least important.
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

bungalowbill said:
If you remove the 7th, it is no longer a 7th chord. I agree with the guys who said the 5th....it would be the least important.
Click to expand...

Yeah I noticed afterwards: I was assuming he had some other instrument in the band (keyboard family probably) that would carry the 7th for him lol.
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

Yeah I agree with remove the fifth (first choice) and/or the root (second choice).
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

Osensei said:
You can always omit the 5th on any chord! Unless the chord has an altered 5th as in C7+ and C7b5 the the fifth is not harmonically important. Even under those circumstances other instruments may be playing the fifth so nobody will miss it if you omit it.

Keep in mind that the fifth if heard by the listener even when its not played because of the overtone series when maj & min triad based harmonies are being used. If you play C E C or C E B on the piano and listen really closely you would swear that you could hear the G!
Click to expand...

yup, what this guy said. I'd tend to drop the root 1st (as long as the bass covers it) & just play the new major or minor triad (3 note chord).. for example, if your chord is a C Maj7, those notes are C, E, G, B ... now if you take a look at those notes starting from E, you have an E Minor Chord (E,G,B). So have a bass player (or another inst) play the C & you play an E minor chord & it adds up to a nice C Major 7th without sounding too flatulent.

Want a D minor 7th? (D, F, A, C) have the bass play the D & you play an F major chord (F, A, C)..

This same little trick can apply to 9th, 11th & 13th chords too (I.E. ... a C major 9 is C, E, G, B, D --- so drop the C & E, have the bass play the root (C) & you play a G major chord (G, B, D) got rid of the root AND the 5th & you play a normal non-flatulent triad & come out sounding like a star... for 11th's & 13ths, just keep on in the same fashion.

But like the guy I quoted said tho'.. watchout for those chords with altered 5ths. Although, a chord such as B Min7b5 can still use this method (B, D, F, A) drop the root & what do you have? D minor chord.

happy arranging : party:
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

I'd drop the root if you have somebody playing bass notes... if you have a bass player - no need to play the roots at all!! That's his job!!

If you are going solo, then drop the 5th.
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

couldnt you play it like this (in G)


G|------(5th)7--------------
D|------(root)5--------------
A|------(7thr)8--------------
E|-------(3rd)6--------------

???
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

Hey! Why not think like a guitarist and solo all of the way thru all of your tunes! That way you won't have to play any chords! :chairfall
 
Re: Which note can I remove in a 7th chord?

Osensei said:
Hey! Why not think like a guitarist and solo all of the way thru all of your tunes! That way you won't have to play any chords! :chairfall
Click to expand...

:laugh2: that cracked me up! that's the most fantastic thing I've read on this forum yet, you are truly a wise man Osensei
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top