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Learning Ukulele with Curt
The Big Six Core Chords - Level I
The Big Six chords include: Seventh 7, Major Seventh, Minor Seventh, Half Diminished Seventh or Minor Seven Flat Five diminished 7 , Diminished Seventh and Augmented Seventh. These six chords form a core set of chords.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: UL42L1
Main Category: Chords Main Instrument: Ukulele
Categories: Chords, Jazz, Intermediate, Core, Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented, Seventh
2026-08-23
RelatedLessonAssets
The Big Six chords include: Seventh 7, Major Seventh maj7, Minor Seventh m7, Half Diminished Seventh or Minor Seven Flat Five diminished 7 m7b5, Diminished Seventh o7 and Augmented Seventh +7. These six chords form a core set of chords.
The remaining chords for The Big Six, Level I Core Chords.
The suggested order to learn these Level 1 chords are:
The Big Six chords include: Seventh 7, Major Seventh maj7, Minor Seventh m7, Half Diminished Seventh or Minor Seven Flat Five diminished 7 m7b5, Diminished Seventh o7 and Augmented Seventh +7. These six chords form a core set of chords.
The order to learn these chords are in the order shown. Although the order is a recommendation it's critical to start with the first chord, _the seventh_. After that the maj7 or minor7 and the order can be determined by your needs. This is the order I follow with my private students.
The Foundation of the Big Six
- Seventh - These are the four F7 voicings that have been covered in this series of lessons.
The Rest of the Big Six Core Chords
- Minor Seventh
- Major Seventh
- Half-Diminished Seventh or Minor Seventh Flat Five depending on the chord's harmonic function within the surrounding chords tonality.
- Diminished Seventh
- Augmented Seventh
Of the Big Six core chords the 7, maj7 and m7 are a bit bigger and a lot more common than the other three and can be used to derive the remaining three chords in this level I.
Links the Level I, II, and II Core Chords
Links Alterations and Extensions of the Core Chords
- Chord Alterations
- Chord Upper Partials and Chord Extensions • A chord extension or upper partial are the chord tones above the octave and not one of the fundamental 4-part chord tones. These are the ninths, elevenths and thirteenths of chords.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Advanced Guide to Chords and Progressions Series
The Advanced Guide to Chords series presents a highly organized and efficient approach to the mysterious subject of advanced chords and chord progressions. Each volume provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords, covering all major, minor, diminished and augmented chord types, their upper partials, alterations, add, sus and slash chords.
