Ukulele · Level 4 · Beginner

Minor seventh chords in B♭ major on Ukulele

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Minor seventh chords are the relaxed, warm minor sound of soul, funk and jazz. In a major key they sit on the second, third and sixth notes.

Cm7

C minor seventh

Notes: C · E♭ · G · B♭

GCEA♭♭

Dm7

D minor seventh

Notes: D · F · A · C

GCEA

Gm7

G minor seventh

Notes: G · B♭ · D · F

GCEA♭
1
Cm7
2
Dm7
3
Gm7
4
Cm7

HOW TO PRACTISE IT

Six steps to a clean loop.

  1. Play each chord on its own: Cm7, Dm7 and Gm7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
  2. Use light pressure; the ukulele's nylon strings need far less force than steel.
  3. Set the tempo to 57 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Keep the shape loose and the strum light, especially on the upbeats.
  4. Strum down on every beat, then add an up-strum between beats with a loose wrist.
  5. Raise the tempo to 76 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
  6. Record one take, listen back and check for a smooth, mellow sound with no harsh notes.

Listen for

Aim for a smooth, mellow sound with no harsh notes. A common mistake is pressing so hard the chord goes sharp.

Why it works

A minor seventh chord is a minor triad plus a flat seventh, the same notes as a major sixth chord a minor third higher.

B♭ major has 2 flats; its relative minor key is G minor.

Questions

What are the chords in ii7–iii7–vi7 in B♭ major?

In B♭ major the progression is Cm7 | Dm7 | Gm7 | Cm7.

What is the key signature of B♭ major?

B♭ major has 2 flats. Its relative minor is G minor.

Is this lesson right for my level?

This is a level 4 lesson (beginner). If it feels too hard, start with “Major seventh chords”.

Your hands learn faster than your eyes.

Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.

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