Alternative D7 chord

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JanineH

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I am about to start teaching ukulele to 7-11 year olds.

I have always played D7 2020 instead of 2223 and have taken some stick from fellow players.

Is this an acceptable way of of playing/teaching D7? The relevant constituent notes are there and I see that the great James Hill uses 2020 in his teaching aids.

It's certainly much easier for small fingers to master.

What do you think?
 
I didn't know it was an alternative. It would be much easier. I think I'll try it myself!
 
I use it all the time, it sounds slightly different, slightly lower and I don't know the technical term for what it's missing but for most songs it works fine, a few sound better with 2223 . BTW when you're giving these notations why do you start at the G string rather than the A string? Not to hijack, just curious. g2
 
I use 2020 a lot. The only problem is that it does not contain the root note of the chord (the note D). No problem at all if other instruments (bass, guitar, piano, etc) are playing along. It is usually sounds fine on solo uke too. However, if it sounds a bit empty or slightly wrong, just use 2223 instead.
 
It is a sub, technically. But all the notes aren't there. In fact, if you check, the note that's missing is the D, the root of the chord. In many instances this makes it sound a little unsatisfying. If you're playing with a group, and others are playing it a different way (D included), or if you're singing the D at the time, it's fine. No big deal. But by itself, although satisfactory, it really sounds very different. Perhaps you can show up your fellow players by adding the D on top. 2025 (small hand alert)
 
I am learning a new song and going to the 2020 would be much easier than 2223, but it just sounds wrong. so what Ken said.
 
Recently I was at a Jumpin' Jim Beloff workshop and he referred to it as the "Hawaiian" D7. He urged us to try this alternative in the songs we were playing together and it sounded pretty good. Can't really speak to the HI origins, but maybe there is a bit of history someone in the know could relate.
 
Yeah, Ken's right. It's like he answers a question and then you could just close the thread. :) It sounds alright in many situations and not in others.
 
I have always known 2020 as the 'Hawaiian D7' as well.
Mostly I use the full D7 2223,BUT it has come up before
that in certain songs like 'Bring Me Sunshine' if you play
the 2223 version it sounds 'wrong' whereas the 2020 one
sounds spot on! I have found this applies to around four
other songs I play too,since then! Incidentally,the first
chord chart I found online when I was a newbie,showed
2020 as D7 and NOT the correct 2223!
 
Ken Middleton said:
I use 2020 a lot. The only problem is that it does not contain the root note of the chord (the note D). No problem at all if other instruments (bass, guitar, piano, etc) are playing along. It is usually sounds fine on solo uke too. However, if it sounds a bit empty or slightly wrong, just use 2223 instead.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this. I find if you're playing something like a Beatles tune where the 7th is there to really build up anticipation to the next chord, you gotta do 2223. They do sound different and people often refer to the 2020 as the Hawaiian D7. I use both. Its really dependent upon the tune you are playing
 
bdukes said:
Recently I was at a Jumpin' Jim Beloff workshop and he referred to it as the "Hawaiian" D7.
Click to expand...

I learned it as the "Hawaiian" D7 as well. From actual Hawaiians!

As far as when to use it - I think it's perfectly fine for the OP's purposes, and in general for strumming simple songs. Beyond that it's an arrangement call - sometimes it sounds better than other inversions of D7, sometimes it doesn't.
 
One advantage to 2223, besides the fact that the root is there, is that in Jazz and Swing, the fully closed chord can be dampened when necessary. The open 2020 will continue to ring because of the open C and A strings. Again, this might only apply to a specific situation or style of playing.
 
I prefer the hawaiian D7 most of the time...as everyone says it is an alternative..most of the time it sounds better and it is easier for me in the transition to or from the next chord..
that doesn't mean I use it always...I use the 2223 too when the 2020 doesn't sound right or for transition or comfort purposes..hope it helps....Happy Strummings...
 
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I usually look at the melody note to figure out which D7 I am going to play - if it's an A I use 2020 and if it is a C I use 2223. That is, in songs where I am lucky enough to have a melody line and not just the chords. My wife usually just plays the 2020 in most cases - and it sounds fine and is perfectly acceptable.
 
nscafe said:
For you music theory types: what would 2023 be technically? Seems to me I've played that before and it sounds all right in some instances.
Click to expand...

2023 and 2020 could be an F#m-b5.

http://chordlist.brian-amberg.de/en/ukulele/standard/Gbmb5/

I'm sure they can function as other chords as well.

Edit: On the page to which I linked, it's listed as a F#mb5/A. For a uke using a low g string, that would be correct. On a re-entrant tuned uke, I think it should be F#mb5/C since the C is the lowest note. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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