2 chord Dominant 7th Jam


C7 to F7 This jam involves changing keys. Both chords are dominant seventh chords meaning they will be V chords. So count back 5 from the chord name and you will have the key the chord belongs to. So in the case of C7, 5 back from C gives us an F. That makes C7 the V chord in the key of F and means when we solo over C7 we will play in the key of F or use C mixolydian (the 5th mode of a major scale). F7 is the V chord in the key of Bb major.

	Notice that C Mixolydian is just an F major scale being played from C to C

		C Mixolydian The fretboard to the left shows a 5th position C Mixolydian scale that would go with the staff above. You can think of as Mixolydian mode being the 5th mode of a major scale. So in this case C is the 5th of and F major scale. If you build and F major scale you will learn that it is: F G A Bb C D E F You can also think of a Mixolydian mode as a major scale with a b7th degree. In other words, build a major scale and lower the 7th note one half step. So build a C major scale and lower the 7th: C D E F G A Bb C The fretboard on the right shows all the notes in 5th position belonging to the key of F major. Notice you could play a 2 octave C Mixolydian scale.

		F Mixolydian The fretboard to the left shows a 5th position F Mixolydian that would go with the staff above. What scale is F the 5th note? Bb. Build a Bb scale and you get: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb So play from F to F but in the key of Bb and you are playing F Mixolydian. Or lower the 7th note of an F major scale and that will also get you F Mixolydian: F G A Bb C D Eb F The fretboard to the right shows all the notes in 5th position in the key of Bb.

	So when you solo over the above jam track your only real concern is the E changing to Eb. So while the C7 chord plays you will want to use the E and when the F7 plays use Eb. All the other notes are the same for both.


		Arpeggios It is also a good idea to practice just the arpeggios. To the left is a 5th position C7 arpeggio. To the right is a 5th position F7 arpeggio. Once you are comfortable with both the scales and arpeggios, try going up the scale and coming down the arpeggio and then up the arpeggio and coming down the scale.



	Note: Because we use only 7 alphabet letters, counting up 4 is the same as counting back 5. For example, if you are trying to count back 5 from C and find it difficult, count up 4 from C. Either way you will get F