Discover the Hidden Power of Dominant 7s
Hey music makers,
Ever play a chord progression that just feels right? Like this one: A7 → D7 → G7 → C7 → B7
There's a reason it flows so naturally—it's gravity for your ears. Each chord drops by a perfect fifth, creating a pull that's practically magnetic.
Those dominant 7s? They're tension machines begging for resolution. Together, they create one of music's strongest momentum engines.
You've heard this before. Earth, Wind & Fire weren't playing around when they used this fifths-based motion after locking into that iconic E7#9 groove.
It's harmony doing what it does best: Movement → Contrast → Resolution
The Circle of Fifths: More Than Just a Pretty Diagram
Think of the Circle of Fifths as your harmonic GPS.
Every clockwise step is a fifth down—the fundamental building block behind everything from jazz standards to funk grooves to pop choruses that stick in your head for days.
It's like a waterfall for chords: smooth, natural, and inevitable.
Level Up Your Chord Progressions
Try this pattern: Dominant 7s moving down in fifths
You'll get:
Built-in momentum
Clear forward motion
Perfect setups for resolution
Test drive this chain: A7 → D7 → G7 → C7 → B7 → E
Perfect for:
Pre-chorus lifts
Bridges with drive
Loopable chord hooks
It's danceable. It's memorable. And the legends have been using it for decades.
🔃 Quick Harmony Refresher
Remember our "home and away" concept:
Tonic = Home (I, vi)
Subdominant = Away (soft tension) (ii, IV)
Dominant = Away (strong tension) (V, vii°)
The Circle of Fifths is your roadmap for this emotional journey.
🔗 [Previous issue link here]
🎯 Challenge for the Week
Play that descending-fifths chain: A7–D7–G7–C7–B7
Land it on E major or E7
Swap one dominant 7 for a minor 7
Build something that uses this motion for lift-off
This isn't music theory trivia—it's your toolkit for writing grooves that move.
