Using Embellished chords to enhance your playing

This post introduces 2 new chords and places them in a progression that highlights their sound. When we talk about embellishing something, we usually mean to add something that enhances the quality. On guitar, sometimes we can add notes by lifting fingers and letting strings ring open. That is the case with the GMaj7 and the CMaj7.

These are 7th chords that sound a bit different from chords like B7, D7, and A7. These chords use a Major 7th while those other chords have a minor 7th. That one change makes a big difference in sound. The sound is often described as having a dream-like quality. Perhaps that is why John Lennon used these types of chord in his iconic song Imagine.


Try the following chord progression using chords we know and some of these embellished chords. You should notice a bit of a different sound in these chords. It is important for all the notes to ring so you hear those embellishments.