Major Seventh Inversions
As discussed previously, all major seventh chords contain four different notes.
When the third (3) is the lowest note of the chord shape, the chord is said to be the first inversion. The chord symbol for the first inversion of the A major seventh chord is written as Amaj7/C#. The following diagram illustrates the first inversion of the A major seventh arpeggio pattern, which contains the notes C# (3), E (5), G# (7) and A (1), in that order.
First Inversion Amaj7/C#
When the fifth (5) is the lowest note of the chord shape, the chord is said to be the second inversion. The chord symbol for the second inversion of the A major seventh chord is written as Amaj7/E. The following diagram illustrates the second inversion of the A major seventh arpeggio pattern, which contains the notes E (5),G# (7), A (1) and C# (3), in that order.
Second Inversion Amaj7/E
When the seventh (7) is the lowest note of the chord shape, the chord is said to be the third inversion. The chord symbol for the third inversion of the A major seventh chord is written as Amaj7/G#. The following diagram illustrates the third inversion of the A major seventh arpeggio pattern, which contains the notes G# (7), A (1), C# (3) and E (5), in that order.
Third Inversion Amaj7/G#
* Note: The last diagram demonstrates how an inversion can also be played in any octave.
If a chord symbol does not specify a particular inversion you are free as a Bass player to choose any combination, order or inversion as long as it sounds good. You may be able to double certain notes or omit others.
This example combines the inversions of the A major seventh arpeggio patterns.
Example 11 only uses inversions.
The following examples combine the major seventh arpeggio pattern, inversions and open strings.
Dominant Seventh Chord
The dominant seventh chord (more commonly called the "seventh chord"), is created by adding the flattened seventh note of the major scale to the major chord.
