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How To Use Dominant 7th Chords

    Dominant 7th chords are called “dominant” because they are a common substitution for the dominant chord in a song. The dominant chord being the 5th of the tonic or V.

    A dominant 7th chord creates a little tension and they sound like they want to resolve to the tonic chord creating a V-I progression.

    Listen to the examples below. Hear how the the dominant 7th chord is resolved by the tonic chord.

    C7-F

    A7-D

    G7-C

    E7-A

    D7-G