Cool Chord of the Week - Dominant 7th Flat 5 - 7b5

[DaNatiMaestro]

Hey folks..

I've been mulling over this particular chord pretty much all week and it is the Dominant 7th Flat 5 chord.

You would use this chord as a passing chord to get to another chord within a progression.  This would also be an altered chord because we've altered the 5th by flatting it.

Let look at this chord:

A7b5  LH/RH = A/GBC#Eb

Chord breakdown wise: in the LH you have the Root, in the RH you have the b7,9,3,b5

How would you use this chord?

In a major 2-5-1 progression use this chord as a tritone substitute for the 5:

in the Key of Ab a normal 2-5-1 progression would be:

LH/RH   NUMBER BREAKDOWN  Chord Name
Bb/AbCDbF    1/b7-9-b3-5   Bbm7
Eb/GBbDbF    1/3-5-b7-9     Eb7
Ab/GBbCEb    1/7-9-3-5      Abmaj7

I've added the 9th freely.  I'm beginning to learn in jazz that you can add the 9 (no alterations) to any of the 7th chords to add some color

Here is that same 2-5-1 progression with the dom7b5 added

again in the key of Ab, the tritone substitution is going to happen on the 5 chord I'm going to change the Eb7 to A7b5.

LH/RH    NUMBER BREAKDOWN  Chord Name
Bb/AbCDbF    1/b7-9-b3-5   Bbm7
A/GBC#Eb     1/b7-9-3-b5   A7b5
Ab/GBbCEb    1/7-9-3-5      Abmaj7

Play the original progression and then play it with the change and hear how smooth the progression gets.

You can use this chord as a passing chord to get to the Imaj7 or Idom7.

Here is the 7b5 chord in every key around the circle of 4ths/5ths.  This is how you should practice every chord to really get them under your hands.
If you print this out, dictate on the chord whether the chord starts off the 3rd or b7th!!  This should help with your chord placements/voicings

C7b5      C/EGbBbD     chord off 3rd...
F7b5      F/ACbEbG     chord off 3rd...
Bb7b5    Bb/AbCDE     chord off b7...
Eb7b5    Eb/GADbF     chord off ????
Ab7b5    Ab/GbBbCD
Db7b5    Db/FGBEb
Gb7b5    Gb/BbCEAb
B7b5      B/ADbEbF
E7b5      E/AbBbDGb
A7b5      A/GBDbEb
D7b5      D/F#AbCE
G7b5      G/FABDb

Just another tool to add to your toolbelt!

Any questions or comments post them!!!  Or if you find other uses of this chord post them!!

[DaNatiMaestro]

When I say off the 3rd or off the b7th, I mean the chord that you're playing in your right hand.  C/EGbBbD this chord is starting off the E in the right hand so it's starting off the 3rd.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

[rayjohnson83]

nice post. thanks for sharing the cool chord of the week

[sjonathan02]

This is FANTASTIC, DaNati. KEEP 'EM COMING!!

[T-Block]

So, since you got the 9th in the chord, don't you think u should note that in your chord symbol?  I would call it a 7 b5/9 chord.  Other than that, good job, keep up the good work.

[DaNatiMaestro]

So, since you got the 9th in the chord, don't you think u should note that in your chord symbol?  I would call it a 7 b5/9 chord.  Other than that, good job, keep up the good work.

I'm glad you mentioned that.  If you've ever looked at a Jazz Fake Book or lead sheet like The Real Book which is what I seen alot of the jazz musicians use to play tunes, you will never see a 9 chord listed.   Everything is listed as some kind of 7th chord, either a minor 7th, major 7th, dominant 7th or some kind of alteration.  Now there will sometimes be a major 6 but most of the time you will not see the 9 listed.  This is because it is implied meaning... when you first learn the tune you should play it straight up if the chord is a domniant 7 then play the dominant 7 after a while then you can add the 9 freely to that chord even though it is a 7th. 

Trust me.. I add 9s and haven't heard a complaint in the jazz settings that I've played.  There is nothing wrong with add a 9th.  Plus it feels your chord out.  So in a jazz setting.. even though the chord says a 7th you can add a 9th or make a substitution.  This is jazz which is built on improvisation so its ok to stray from the sheet just not too far that you mess up the underlying harmony.

Adding a 9th is an extension to the harmony and not an alteration of the harmony.  Yeah so technically the chord is a Dom 7 b5/9 but you'll rarely see it listed like that. 

A quick example though....

Here is a breakdown for that Dom 7 b5 chord in some common extensions:
Ab7b5          Ab/GbCD
Ab7b5/9       Ab/GbBbCD
Ab7b5/9 13   Ab/GbBbCDF

Which one is right is a matter of preference?  You could play anyone of these chords and it would be fine because you have that dominant 7th (b7) and b5.  Again we just extended the harmony but haven't altered it.
 
I hope this helps.  T-Block is right on the money though with what it technically should be called.  But let your ear decide what sounds the best to you.
 

[T-Block]

I gotcha man, it's just the Theory head in me that likes to be technically correct, LOL.  I do understand where u coming from, about being in that jazz setting, it's a whole different world from gospel or any other genre of music.

[DaNatiMaestro]

Just playing around with this chord some more....

if you want a scale to use to solo over this try the whole tone scale.. which is just a scale made up up whole notes

so for instance if I was playing a Ab7b5

I'd so something like this...

RH/LH
GBC#Eb/A,B,C#,Eb,F,G,A


A Practical Example of this is as such....
2-5-1 progression with the 5 chord tri-tone substituted

Bass/RH/LH
Bb/AbCDbF/Eb,Db,C,Bb,C,Db
A/GBC#Eb/Eb,Db,B,A,Db
Ab/GBbCEb/FGC


Try to make your soloing or comping melodic it will add a lot to your playing!

[DaNatiMaestro]

I meant to say a scale made up of notes a whole tone apart.. whoops.. lol

starting on A it would be A,B,C#,Eb,F,G,A

[darkwing]

Here is a nice clean way of implementing it in a 2-5.

Bbm11   Bb / Eb Db F Ab
A7(b5)   A / Eb C E Ab

Notice how the two middle notes drop a half-step.  All you have to do is memorize the feel of the first chord and just remember that the inner notes drop a half-step.

God Bless!

[musallio]

 

[musallio]

My application of the ...7b5:

I use this chord in the 4-3-(b3)-2-1 progression thus:

in the key of F#

[4]           B/Bb-Db-Eb-F#                                   
[3]           Bb/Ab-(Bb)-C-Db-F                             
[b3]          A/G-B-Db-Eb
[2]           Ab/F#-Bb-B-Eb-(F) or  Ab/F#-Bb-B-Db-F (just test)
[1]           F#/F-Ab-Bb-Db
[1] hold F# from above/ Bb-F-Bb  (optional)

This is actually the ending progression to the song : Falling In Love With Jesus (Kirk Whalum feat. J. Butler).. but I think the original key is Ab.

If some1 can, can U plz show where /how this nice chord can be used bcos I'm now getting irrit8ed coz i can't apply it anywhere other than in imilar songs to this 1..
thanx in advance.

those who want 2 transpose easily, the progression is this in the number system:

4/3-4-5-1
3/2-(3)-b5-5-7
b3/#1-4-5-6
2/1-3-4-6-(7)  or 2/1-3-4-5-7
1/7-2-3-5
1/3-7-3

[musallio]

I really appreci8 this "cool chord of the week" idea.
i don't know if U have plans 2 make this an ongoing project..& perhaps teach on 2 or 3  chords for the week.. what's so great is that the chord has been arranged in the circle of 4ths 4 us already, & those ppl who are not keen on learning all keys will find it easier.

I dnt know which chord was going 2 come next, but i just came across this 2-5-1 progression :HERE IS A JAZZY 2-5-1 IN THE KEY OF C.ENJOY


DA/F-A-C-E-G....Dmin11

G/F-B-Eb-F.....G7#5

CBb/Eb-G-D....Cmin9
 & thought, can some1 do a lesson on the 7#5 or #11b13 'coz these sound so cool when i play them.

thanx in advance..

[darkwing]

Hey folks..

I've been mulling over this particular chord pretty much all week and it is the Dominant 7th Flat 5 chord.

You would use this chord as a passing chord to get to another chord within a progression.  This would also be an altered chord because we've altered the 5th by flatting it.

Let look at this chord:

A7b5  LH/RH = A/GBC#Eb

Chord breakdown wise: in the LH you have the Root, in the RH you have the b7,9,3,b5

How would you use this chord?

In a major 2-5-1 progression use this chord as a tritone substitute for the 5:

in the Key of Ab a normal 2-5-1 progression would be:

LH/RH   NUMBER BREAKDOWN  Chord Name
Bb/AbCDbF    1/b7-9-b3-5   Bbm7
Eb/GBbDbF    1/3-5-b7-9     Eb7
Ab/GBbCEb    1/7-9-3-5      Abmaj7

I've added the 9th freely.  I'm beginning to learn in jazz that you can add the 9 (no alterations) to any of the 7th chords to add some color

Here is that same 2-5-1 progression with the dom7b5 added

again in the key of Ab, the tritone substitution is going to happen on the 5 chord I'm going to change the Eb7 to A7b5.

LH/RH    NUMBER BREAKDOWN  Chord Name
Bb/AbCDbF    1/b7-9-b3-5   Bbm7
A/GBC#Eb     1/b7-9-3-b5   A7b5
Ab/GBbCEb    1/7-9-3-5      Abmaj7

Play the original progression and then play it with the change and hear how smooth the progression gets.

You can use this chord as a passing chord to get to the Imaj7 or Idom7.

Here is the 7b5 chord in every key around the circle of 4ths/5ths.  This is how you should practice every chord to really get them under your hands.
If you print this out, dictate on the chord whether the chord starts off the 3rd or b7th!!  This should help with your chord placements/voicings

C7b5      C/EGbBbD     chord off 3rd...
F7b5      F/ACbEbG     chord off 3rd...
Bb7b5    Bb/AbCDE     chord off b7...
Eb7b5    Eb/GADbF     chord off ????
Ab7b5    Ab/GbBbCD
Db7b5    Db/FGBEb
Gb7b5    Gb/BbCEAb
B7b5      B/ADbEbF
E7b5      E/AbBbDGb
A7b5      A/GBDbEb
D7b5      D/F#AbCE
G7b5      G/FABDb

Just another tool to add to your toolbelt!

Any questions or comments post them!!!  Or if you find other uses of this chord post them!!

That should be called a

JUST KIDDING!!!   

[Wolfram]

So, since you got the 9th in the chord, don't you think u should note that in your chord symbol?  I would call it a 7 b5/9 chord.  Other than that, good job, keep up the good work.

That is not necessary.  Jazz players will add a ninth arbitrarily to any 7th chord for spice without having to have it specified.  It happens a lot with the ii - V7 - I progressions because it adds an additional passing tone for  you to solo or harmonize with.

Example:  ii - V7 - I in C  (Dm - G7 - C)  This C will actually be played as a Cmaj7(add9)  standard jazz rule

Dm - F-A-C-E (Bass plays D)
G7 - F-A-B-D (Bass plays G)
C - E-G-B-D (Bass plays C)

Here is another tasty variation: ii - V7 - I - VI turnaround

Dm - F-A-C-E (Bass plays D)
G13(b9) - F-Ab-B-E (Bass plays G)
C - E-G-B-D  (Bass plays C)
A7(b9) - E-G-Bb-C# (Bass plays A)

AND simplified to the three essential notes for beginner left hand play

Dm - A-C-E (Bass plays D)
G13(b9) - Ab-B-E (Bass plays G)
C - G-B-D  (Bass plays C)
A7(b9) - G-Bb-C# (Bass plays A)


HAVE FUN!!!

[T-Block]

That is not necessary.  Jazz players will add a ninth arbitrarily to any 7th chord for spice without having to have it specified.  It happens a lot with the ii - V7 - I progressions because it adds an additional passing tone for  you to solo or harmonize with.

I got that man, thanks for reiterating it though. 

[MemphisKeys]

Hey DaNatiMaestro Thnks for the info....THANKS again...

[seemunny]

I thought in Jazz you would also see for instance a "D9" or a "D9b5"...

But, i'm just here to learn.