Resolving 7th Chords

As you may have noticed, 7th chords on the ‘ukulele always go somewhere. The reason is this: 7th chords are unresolved chords. An unresolved chord is a chord that needs to be resolved. For example, within the key of C you are playing G7. You can play that G7 all day, but the song won’t sound over until the G7 goes somewhere (usually to C). The only time you might hear a song ended on a 7th chord is in a blues song. Even then the 7th chord is the root. Simple.

Where does that 7th chord go? Most of the time, a fourth up. This isn’t for all cases, but it will help you in most progressions.

G7: take the chord name note = G
Use the scale – G scale: G A B C D E F# G
Including starting and stopping notes count up four = G A B C
C is the fourth note, so that is going to be the next chord.

So, most of the time G7 will go up a fourth to C. But what if it is a C7?

C7 = C: C D E F G A B C = C D E F: F is the next chord.

This will increase by fourths until you go through all of the twelve 7th chords.

Try F7 yourself.

F7 = chord name note: ___
Appropriate scale: _______________________
Count up a fourth: ______________
Fourth note is?: ____ = next chord.

Answer:
F7 = chord name note: F
Appropriate scale: F G A Bb C D E F
Count up a fourth: F G A Bb
Fourth note is?: Bb = next chord.

If you count backwards you can figure out the Hawaiian vamp for the last chord. So count back three chords: Bb F7 C7. Then reverse the order: C7 F7 Bb. That is the Bb Hawaiian vamp progression.

When I learned this it was like a light bulb going on, I hope you feel the same.