This checkpoint reviews the main skills from Module 1: Advanced Chord Voicings & Harmony.
You’ll check how well you can understand and apply chord movement, extensions, 7th-chord arpeggios, spread triads, and drop 2 voicings.
This is a self-check, not a pass-or-fail test. Focus on understanding the sound and making intentional choices. A small mistake is fine if you can recover and continue.
- Time: About 5–10 minutes
- You need: Your guitar and a familiar chord progression
Part 1: Check your understanding
1. Creating a stronger pull into a chord
If G Major is the chord you want to lead into, which dominant 7 chord can you place directly before it to create a stronger pull?
- A. C7
- B. D7
- C. E7
Show answer
B. D7. D is the 5 of G, so D7 creates a strong pull into G. This is the same secondary-dominant idea you practiced in the lesson.
2. Diminished and augmented chords
Which statement correctly describes these two chord sounds?
- A. An augmented chord lowers the 5th, and a diminished 7 chord raises the 5th.
- B. An augmented chord raises the 5th of a Major triad, and a diminished 7 chord can create tension that resolves into a nearby target chord.
- C. Both chords use the same chord tones.
Show answer
B. An augmented triad uses 1, 3, #5. A diminished 7 chord uses 1, b3, b5, 6 and can create tension that resolves into a nearby chord.
3. Major 6 and minor 6 formulas
Which formulas are correct?
- A. Major 6 = 1, 3, 5, 6 and minor 6 = 1, b3, 5, 6
- B. Major 6 = 1, 3, 5, b7 and minor 6 = 1, b3, 5, b7
- C. Major 6 = 1, 3, #5, 6 and minor 6 = 1, b3, b5, 6
Show answer
A. Both chords contain a natural 6. The 3rd determines whether the chord is Major or minor.
4. Connecting the four 7th-chord arpeggios
Starting with a Major 7 arpeggio, which chord tone changes as you move through the sequence below?
Major 7 → Dominant 7 → minor 7 → minor 7 b5
Show answer
Major 7 → Dominant 7: lower the 7th.
Dominant 7 → minor 7: lower the 3rd.
Minor 7 → minor 7 b5: lower the 5th.
The formulas are Major 7: 1, 3, 5, 7; Dominant 7: 1, 3, 5, b7; minor 7: 1, b3, 5, b7; minor 7 b5: 1, b3, b5, b7.
Part 2: Play it
5. Create tension and resolution
Choose a chord inside a familiar progression as your target. Find its 5 chord or dominant 7 chord and place it directly before the target.
Play the progression first without the added chord, then again with it. Listen for the stronger pull into the target chord.
Check the goal
You should be able to choose a target chord, find the dominant chord that leads into it, and hear how the added chord strengthens the resolution.
6. Add color to a chord
Choose one of these two options:
- Start with a familiar Major or minor chord and add the natural 6th to create a Major 6 or minor 6 sound.
- Start with a 7th chord or shell chord and add one extension such as the 9th or 13th.
Play the simpler chord first, then the colored version. Listen for the note you added.
Check the goal
You should be able to add one chord tone intentionally and hear how it changes the color while the basic chord quality stays clear.
7. Use an arpeggio musically
Choose one of the four arpeggio qualities from this module: Major 7, Dominant 7, minor 7, or minor 7 b5.
- Say the four-note formula.
- Play one comfortable shape.
- Move the shape to one other root.
- Create a short phrase using those chord tones instead of only running the shape straight up and down.
Check the goal
You should be able to connect the arpeggio formula to a movable fretboard shape and turn the chord tones into a short musical idea.
8. Work with wider voicings
First, choose one Major or minor spread triad and play its three inversions on one string set.
Then choose two 7th chords and move between nearby drop 2 voicings without making a large jump across the fretboard.
Check the goal
For the spread triad, you should be able to move through root position, 1st inversion, and 2nd inversion while keeping the chord quality clear.
For the drop 2 chords, look for voicings that keep your fretting hand in roughly the same area as the chord changes.
Part 3: Put it together
9. Build a short harmonic idea
Choose a familiar two- or three-chord progression and make two intentional changes:
- Add one harmonic color from this module, such as a secondary dominant, diminished chord, augmented chord, 6th chord, or extension.
- Use at least one spread-triad or drop 2 voicing instead of the chord shape you normally play.
Then choose one chord in the progression and create a short phrase using its arpeggio tones.
Check the goal
The goal is to make deliberate harmonic choices and keep your place in the progression. The idea does not need to be complicated. If you make a small mistake, recover and continue.
Readiness check
You’re ready to continue when most of these feel comfortable:
- You can create a stronger pull into a target chord with a secondary dominant.
- You understand how diminished and augmented chords change the basic chord structure and create tension.
- You can build a Major 6 or minor 6 chord and add at least one extension to a familiar 7th chord.
- You know the formulas for Major 7, Dominant 7, minor 7, and minor 7 b5 arpeggios.
- You can use one 7th-chord arpeggio to create a short musical phrase.
- You can play the three inversions of one spread triad on a single string set.
- You can use nearby drop 2 voicings to move between two 7th chords.
- If you lose your place or miss a note, you can recover and continue.
If you need another practice round
Use the lesson that matches the skill you want to review:
- Secondary chords: Understanding secondary chords on guitar
- Diminished harmony: How to play diminished chords
- Augmented harmony: How to play augmented chords
- Major 6 chords: How to play Major 6 chords
- Minor 6 chords: How to play minor 6 chords
- Building extensions: How to build extended chords
- Jazz voicings: How to play jazz guitar chords
- Major 7 arpeggios: Major 7 arpeggios
- Dominant 7 arpeggios: Dominant 7 arpeggios
- Minor 7 arpeggios: Minor 7 arpeggios
- Minor 7 b5 arpeggios: Half-diminished arpeggios
- Spread triads: How to play spread triad chords
- Drop 2 voicings: How to play drop 2 chords