B11th Chords for Lap Steel

Key of C
 

MAJOR

 
C Major Chords
 
E________3_____________12________15_______________________________
C#_______3_____________11________15_______________________________
A________3___10___10___10________15_______________________________
F#___1_______10___10________13____________________________________
D#___1_______9______________13____________________________________
B____1______________________13____________________________________
 
Notice ther B note on the bottom, which gives you your root note.
 

MINOR

 
 
C Minor Chords
 
E_________________________________________________________________
C#____6___11______________________________________________________
A_____6___10______________________________________________________
F#____6___9_______________________________________________________
D#________________________________________________________________
C#________________________________________________________________
 
 

AUGMENTED

 
 
E______________________*4___*8____________________________________
C#_____________________*3___*7___3___7___11_______________________
A____3___7___11___15___*3___*7___3___7___11_______________________
F#___2___6___10___14_____________2___6___10_______________________
D#___1___5___9____13______________________________________________
C#________________________________________________________________
 
*This is not considered proper technique, since you can't really do a 
forward bar slant and make strings 2 and 3 sound in pitch, but if you
play it fluidly, twisting the bar while sliding up, it works well and 
you don't really notice it. I use it. The key is not to stay in one 
spot long enough for the sour chord to be noticeable.

DIMINISHED

 
 
E_________________________________________________________________
C#________________________________________________________________
A____0___3___6___9___12___________________________________________
F#___0___3___6___9___12___________________________________________
D#___0___3___6___9___12___________________________________________
C#________________________________________________________________

 

DOMINANT 7TH

 
 
E_________________________________________________________________
C#________________________________________________________________
A_________________________________________________________________
F#________________________________________________________________
D#________________________________________________________________
C#________________________________________________________________

					
		

		

			
			
6th

			
			
 

			
E_________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


A_________________________________________________________________


F#________________________________________________________________


D#________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


			
 

		

		

			
			
9TH

			
			
 

			
E_________________________________________________________________


C#___1___13_______________________________________________________


A____1___13_______________________________________________________


F#___1___13_______________________________________________________


D#___1___13_______________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


			
 

		

		

			
			
13TH

			
			
 

			
E_________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


A_________________________________________________________________


F#________________________________________________________________


D#________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


			
 

		

		

			
			
RELATIVE MINOR

			
			
 

			
E_________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


A_________________________________________________________________


F#________________________________________________________________


D#________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


			
 

		

		

			
			
Csus4

			
			
 

			
E______3__________________________________________________________


C#_____4__________________________________________________________


A__________10_____________________________________________________


F#_________11_____________________________________________________


D#________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________


			
 

		

	

	
Making Chords is Easy!

	
Chord structure diagram:

 








	

		
           HALF-STEPS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
TRIADS
    major (no symbol): 1  .  .  . M3  .  . p5  .  .  .  . (1)
                    m: 1  .  . m3  .  .  . p5  .  .  .  . (1)
                  dim: 1  .  . m3  .  . d5  .  .  .  .  . (1)
                  aug: 1  .  .  . M3  .  .  . a5  .  .  . (1)
SEVENTHS         
                 maj7: 1  .  .  . M3  .  . p5  .  .  . M7 (1)
               (dom)7: 1  .  .  . M3  .  . p5  .  . m7  . (1)
                   m7: 1  .  .  m3 .  .  . p5  .  . m7 .  (1)
              m(maj7): 1  .  .  m3 .  .  . p5  .  .  . M7 (1)
                 m7b5: 1  .  .  m3 .  . d5  .  .  . m7  . (1)
                 dim7: 1  .  .  m3 .  . d5  .  . d7  .  . (1)

M = major
m = minor
p = perfect
d = diminished
a = augmented
red = non-standard intervals referred to in symbol

	

	
Those are the 6 basic 7th chord types in 
	music.

	

	Explanation of the 
	Dominant 7th Chord

	

		
The Tricky to 
		Understand Dominant 7th Chord

		
The “Dominant 7th” chord name 
		comes from the fact that it occurs naturally in the seventh chord 
		built upon the dominant (i.e. the fifth degree) of a given major 
		diatonic scale. This chord chart below is very helpful to logic out this 
		statement. In any music scale, the 1st note is called the “tonic,” the 
		4th note is called the “sub-dominant,” and the 5th note is called the 
		“dominant.” That's just music terminology. I've highlighted the “5,” 
		i.e., the dominant note, for simplicity below. 

		
It's very simple, but took me 
		a loooong time to figure out. There's no easy way to explain this. Let's 
		consider E9th pedal steel. Your 9th note is a D, which is a Dominant 
		7th. Now D is NOT naturally occurring in the key of E, so you have to 
		flat the 7th note (D#) to make it a Dominant 7th. So why is it called a 
		Dominant 7th? It's because the D note DOES occur naturally in the scale 
		of E if you begin the scale on the Dominant (or 5th) note of the key 
		of A. Since the flatted 7th note occurs naturally when built upon 
		the 5th (Dominant) note of a scale, it only makes sense to call it a 
		Dominant 7th. 

		
Here's another way to 
		illustrate. The chord of E dominant 7th is: E - G# - B - D. Take a look 
		below at the key of A. The 5th note (Dominant note) is E. If you 
		structure the 7th chord after the 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 pattern, then starting 
		at the 5th note in the key of A you have: E - G# - B - D; and the D note 
		is NATURALLY occurring here. You didn't have to flatten the D# 
		like you do in a scale that begins with the Tonic (1st note). This is 
		the meaning of the Dominant 7th chord. It naturally occurs only if you 
		build the scale beginning on the 5th note (called the Dominant) in any 
		particular scale. 

		
So in simplest terms, if you 
		begin any scale on the Tonic (1st Note), you're going to have to flat 
		the 7th note if you want to obtain a Dominant 7th. But if you begin the 
		scale on the Dominant (5th note), then you will find a naturally 
		occurring flatted 7th and not have to alter it. This is why a 7th note 
		is called "Dominant," because it naturally occurs in any scale that 
		begins upon the 5th note of a scale. 

		
In short, a scale starting on 
		the 5th (Dominant) note of any scale will produce a naturally flatted 
		7th note if you build using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 structure. Of course, 1 - 
		3 - 5 in any scale is a major chord. And then you're adding the 7th. 
		Scales built starting from the Tonic (1st note) will produce a Major 7th 
		chord. Scales built starting from the Dominant (5th note) will produce a 
		Dominant 7th chord. 

		
Hence, in the key of C, 
		Hawaiian players commonly use the C Dominant 7th chord (that is, tuning 
		your bottom string to a Bb note). The C Dominant 7th chord occurs 
		naturally in the scale of F, when structured beginning from the 5th note 
		(Dominant note). The Dominant 7th is one of my favorite chords on steel 
		guitar. 

	

	
	
Music Chord Structures

	
	

		

			

				 
				1 (Tonic)
				 
				3
				4 (sub dominant)
				5 
				(Dominant)
				6 
				7
			

			

				Key of C:
				C
				D
				E
				F
				G
				A
				B
			

			

				Key of A:
				A
				B
				C#
				D
				E
				F#
				G#
			

			

				Key of Bb
				Bb
				C
				D
				Eb
				F
				G
				A
			

			

				Key of B:
				B
				C#
				D#
				E
				F#
				G#
				A#
			

			

				Key of C:
				C
				D
				E
				F
				G
				A
				B
			

			

				Key of C#
				C#
				D#
				F
				F#
				G#
				A#
				C
			

			

				Key of D:
				D
				E
				F#
				G
				A
				B
				C#
			

			

				Key of Eb
				Eb
				F
				G
				Ab
				Bb
				C
				D
			

			

				Key of E:
				E
				F#
				G#
				A
				B
				C#
				D#
			

			

				Key of F:
				F
				G
				A
				Bb
				C
				D
				E
			

			

				Key of F#:
				F#
				G#
				A#
				B
				C#
				D#
				F
			

			

				Key of G:
				G
				A
				B
				C
				D
				E
				F#
			

			

				Key of G#
				G#
				A#
				C
				C#
				D#
				F
				G
			

		

	
 

	

		

			

				

					

						

						Major triad chords for Steel 
						guitar

						
Triads are chords 
						containing three notes: the root, third and fifth. For 
						example: C major consists of the notes C, E and G.

 

				

			

			

				

					

					Minor triad chords for Steel 
					guitar

					

						
Triads are chords 
						containing three notes: the root, third and fifth. Minor 
						triads are similar to major triads except for a minor 
						third. For example: C minor consists of the notes C, Eb 
						and G.

 

					

				

			

			

				

					

					6th chords for Steel guitar

					
The 6th chords are identical to 
					the major triad, but with an additional sixth. For example: 
					C6 consists of the notes C, E, G and A.

 

			

			

				

					

					Augmented chords for Steel guitar

					
The augmented chord is similar 
					to a major triad, but with a raised fifth. Thus, the 
					augmented chord is made up of two major thirds stacked on 
					top of one another. For example: C major consists of the 
					notes C, E and G#.

 

			

			

				

					

						

						m7b5 chords for Steel guitar

						
The m7b5 chord is similar 
						to a minor seventh, but with a lowered fifth. For 
						example: Cm7b5 consists of the notes C, Eb, Gb and Bb.

 

						

							

								

								7th chords for Steel 
								guitar

								
The 7th chords are 
								chords made up of a major triad plus a minor 
								seventh, also known as dominant seventh chords. 
								For example: C7 consists of the notes C, E, G 
								and Bb.

 

						

						

							

								

								9th chords for Steel 
								guitar

								
The 9th chords are 
								chords made up of a major triad plus a seventh 
								and a ninth. A full 9th chord consists of five 
								notes, but sometimes the fifth or third are left 
								out. For example: C9 consists of the notes C, E, 
								G, Bb and D.

								
 

								

									

										

										Minor 7th 
										chords for Steel guitar

										
The minor 
										seventh chord is a minor triad plus a 
										minor seventh. For example: Cm7 consists 
										of the notes C, Eb, G and Bb.

 

								

								

									

										

										7#5 chords 
										for Steel guitar

										
The 7#5 
										chord is similar to the regular seventh 
										chord, but with a raised fifth. For 
										example: C7#5 consists of the notes C, 
										E, G# and Bb.

 

								

								

									

										

										7#9 chords 
										for Steel guitar

										
The 7#9 
										chord is similar to the seventh chord, 
										but with an additional raised ninth. The 
										raised ninth is identical to the minor 
										third, which means that the 7#9 contains 
										both the major and the minor third. For 
										example: C7#9 consists of the notes C, 
										E, G, Bb and D#.

 

								

							

						

						

							

								

								m9 chords for Steel 
								guitar

								
The minor ninth 
								chord is a minor triad plus a seventh and a 
								ninth. For example: Cm9 consists of the notes C, 
								Eb, G, Bb and D.

 

								

									

										

										maj7 chords 
										for Steel guitar

										
The maj7 
										chord is a major triad plus a major 
										seventh (maj7 = major seventh). For 
										example: Cmaj7 consists of the notes C, 
										E, G and B.

 

								

								

									

										

										add9 chords 
										for Steel guitar

										
The add9 
										chord is a major triad with an 
										additional ninth. Unlike the regular 9th 
										chord, the add9 has no seventh. For 
										example: Cadd9 consists of the notes C, 
										E, G and D.

 

										

										13th chords 
										for Steel guitar

										

											

											A full 
											13th chord is made up of seven 
											notes. That is a major triad plus a 
											seventh, ninth, eleventh and the 
											13th. Since this is impossible to 
											play on a six-string steel guitar, 
											the fifth and the third are often 
											left out (and sometimes even the 
											root). For example: A C13th consists 
											of the notes C, E, G, Bb, D, F and 
											A.

 

										

									

								

								

									

										

										Diminished 
										7th chords for Steel guitar

										

										The dim7 
										(diminished seventh) is made up of a 
										diminished triad (i.e. a minor triad 
										with a lowered fifth) and a diminished 
										seventh interval. The diminished seventh 
										interval is a minor seventh that has 
										been lowered a half note (identical to a 
										straightforward sixth). In other words, 
										the diminished seventh is constructed by 
										putting four minor thirds on top of each 
										other. For example: Cdim7 consists of 
										the notes C, Eb, Gb and Bbb (In this 
										example, the diminished seventh interval 
										is written as "Bbb", not as "A").

 

								

								

									

										

										Suspended 
										(sus) chords for Steel guitar

										
Sus4 chords 
										have no third, which is "suspended" (sus 
										= suspended) and replaced by a fourth. A 
										variant of the sus-chord is the sus2, 
										where the third is replaced with a 
										second. The sus-chords are neither major 
										nor minor chords. For example: Csus4 
										consists of the notes C, F and G.

										

										Here's just 
										something interesting that I played 
										today...

			
E_____________0___________________________________________________


C#__________0____0~1______________________________________________


A_________0___________0___________________________________________


F#___0~1________________0_________________________________________


D#________________________________________________________________


C#________________________________________________________________

										
 

										

											
Remember, if you leave off the first string, E , then you have the C6th on strings 2,3 and 4 (exactly). 


										

										


	
Music Chord Structures



	

		

			

				 
				1
				 
				3
				 
				5
				6                 
				7
				 
			

			

				Key of C:
				C
				D
				E
				F
				G
				A
				B
				C
			

			

				Key of A:
				A
				B
				C#
				D
				E
				F#
				G#
				A
			

			

				
Key of Bb
				Bb
				C
				D
				Eb
				F
				G
				A
				Bb
			

			

				

				Key of B:
				B
				C#
				D#
				E
				F#
				G#
				A#
				B
			

			

				

				Key of C:
				C
				D
				E
				F
				G
				A
				B
				C
			

			

				
Key of C#
				C#
				D#
				F
				F#
				G#
				A#
				C
				C#
			

			

				

				Key of D:
				D
				E
				F#
				G
				A
				B
				C#
				D
			

			

				
Key of Eb
				Eb
				F
				G
				Ab
				Bb
				C
				D
				Eb
			

			

				

				Key of E:
				E
				F#
				G#
				A
				B
				C#
				D#
				E
			

			

				

				Key of F:
				F
				G
				A
				Bb
				C
				D
				E
				F
			

			

				
Key of F#:
				F#
				G#
				A#
				B
				C#
				D#
				F
				F#
			

			

				

				Key of G:
				G
				A
				B
				C
				D
				E
				F#
				G
			

		

										


	

	
										

								

							

						

				

			

			
And always remember to C# or 
			you'll Bb!
 

	

	











  
  



	

  
  

  Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven!