The "Christmas" sound (D7)


David C
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David C
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12/14/2002 8:48 pm
Why do so many Christmas songs have the chord D7 in them? What is it about that chord that is so "Christmas-like?" I am thinking of "Joy to the World," Jingle Bells," "Rocking around the Christmas Tree," "Holly Jolly Christmas," and others. These songs are typically in key of G and use a lot of D7 too, at least in my little Christmas Song book for Guitar. Whatever it is, it works. I mean, there's something about the D7 chord that makes me think of mistletoe and holly. Can any of you theorists explain this?

Thanks,
David C


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# 1
Josh Redstone
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Josh Redstone
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12/14/2002 9:00 pm
I guess its just the structure of the chord. All dominant 7th chords seem happy, but with a twist or something, like, not boring old happy like a major chord, they've got a little something extra about them. Its that b7th or something.
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# 2
David C
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David C
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12/14/2002 9:05 pm
Thanks, Josh. You been playin' the blues lately?
About the D7, I guess it is hard to explain why certain sounds make us feel a certain way. "Ineffable" might be a good word for it. There's a reason, but we can't put it into words.

David
"It's all right son . . . we told you what to dream"
# 3
Josh Redstone
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Josh Redstone
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12/14/2002 9:33 pm
Its something about their structure. I know that Joe Satriani took a course at music college about how different intervalic structures affect the moods of people. It'd be a neat thing to learn about.
And I have been playing the blues lately.
And God said, 'Let there be rock!'
-And it was good
# 4
noticingthemistake
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noticingthemistake
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12/16/2002 3:40 am
Hey Dave,

Most Christmas songs are written in G because the key
of G has a sort of warmth to it, the kinda of sense you
would want in a Christmas song. Also alot of Ballads are
written in G for the same reason. Now why the D7 is in
those songs alot is because it is the Dominant chord in the
key of G. Which no matter what key your in or what kind
of song your playing, Dominant Seventh's are found everywhere.

Josh and Dave,

Here's something that might help you understand it. Moods
and feeling we get from certain sounds doesn't really come from
the Chord, it's the individual notes in the chord. See the D7 is
happy sounding because of the D, F#, A, and C# in the chord.
A is a very bright tone, the F# and C# are both rather strong,
so when they come together it's a sense a happiness you might
get. Now if you play a B7 chord, it's not very happy because
that chord is made up of B, D#, F#, and A#. B is a dark sound, so
is A#. The D# is more mellow, mixed with the stronger F#. So the
feeling you get is a strong but darker sound.

The sense of a Seventh Chord is the 7th, like in D7, it is the
C#. This is because the D and C#, in pitch, are so close that
they clash. That is the sound of the Seventh chord, it's the
clashing of those 2 notes. In Result, it will give a sense of
strenght.

Same thing with a Sixth chord, which tends to be Harmonious. Take
a Dmaj6 chord, it is the B that gives it the harmonious sound.
Because the B is a harmonic third from D. B and D do not clash,
they go together like D and F#, harmonically it is a major sound.

Hope that helps.

"My whole life is a dark room...ONE BIG DARK ROOM" - a.f.i.
# 5
David C
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David C
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12/18/2002 3:35 pm
Thanks, that does help.
"It's all right son . . . we told you what to dream"
# 6
TheDirt
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TheDirt
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12/18/2002 4:13 pm
Most Christmas songs are played in the key of G on the guitar, because every diatonic chord (with the exception of F# diminished, which is rarely used anyway) can be played as open chords, which are the easiest chords to play and the first most beginners learn. Also the tone of open chords plays a big part in the key selection.
You could opt to play any of these songs in A Major by barring the 2nd fret on every chord, but you'll notice that it sounds different. Open chords sound different from barred chords because of the strings vibrating against the nut instead of your finger. With most nuts made of a material harder than flesh (anything from plastic to brass), open chords give a brighter tone.
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# 7
Josh Redstone
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Josh Redstone
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12/20/2002 9:03 pm
Not to mention, open chordes are often structured differently than barre chordes, like, there are many transposable barre chord shapes that all sound the same, but open chordes always are different, I dont really know how to put it. You probably know what I'm talking about anyway. Its like what TheDirt
was saying only pitches and notes instead of the timber of the notes in the chord.
Plus G major only has one sharp. Its not that big of a key signature to deal with when you trying to be happy and merry for the holidays.
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-And it was good
# 8
noticingthemistake
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noticingthemistake
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12/21/2002 1:55 am
Originally posted by Josh Redstone
Plus G major only has one sharp. Its not that big of a key signature to deal with when you trying to be happy and merry for the holidays.


When I took music theory before, I used to write stuff in C# major. Man, that would p*ss my teacher off! He played piano too...:D
"My whole life is a dark room...ONE BIG DARK ROOM" - a.f.i.
# 9
Josh Redstone
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Josh Redstone
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12/21/2002 2:05 am
Heh heh heh. All those black keys. You'd think that would be okay on the piano.
And God said, 'Let there be rock!'
-And it was good
# 10
noticingthemistake
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noticingthemistake
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12/21/2002 2:40 am

Yeah, but I dont think he was used to playing in that key.
Everytime I would give him something like that, he would knot his head and say, "Damn-it Mike, no matter how many times I tell you the piano isn't made for such key signatures, you give more of these ridiculous keys to play in". He would play it though, but then I would throw in some accidentals (naturals), and once he got there he would mess up. EVERYTIME. He'd say, "Damn it, you either write me something worth my time or get out". Then he would laugh. Despite this story, he was the coolest teach I ever had. The only one I every got along with in all my years. And yes, he would say damn. He didn't give a sh*t. I guess that is why he was so cool.
"My whole life is a dark room...ONE BIG DARK ROOM" - a.f.i.
# 11
Josh Redstone
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Josh Redstone
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12/21/2002 2:56 am
Sounds like a cool guy.
And God said, 'Let there be rock!'
-And it was good
# 12

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