Photo: mike behrens

Can you omit the fifth in a chord?

In extended chords (7th, 9th, 11th and 13th) the 5th is usually omitted – partly to keep these chords from sounding too harmonically 'dense'. The 5th is a very strong-sounding interval, lending itself more to rock than jazzy extended chords.

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Joe Pass, seen here playing his signature Ibanez JP20 archtop, would teach students the CAGED system to help them figure out chord theory on the fretboard Anyone who has studied chord theory will confirm that the basis of a major or minor chord is the triad of root, 3rd (or b3rd) and 5th. Once we start altering or extending chords, though, the picture becomes slightly less clear. A sharp or flat 5th deviates from the norm, but it still refers to the ‘root, 3rd, 5th’ formula as a basis. Sometimes, one of the notes from the basic triad is omitted altogether. Power or ‘5’ chords omit the 3rd, blurring the lines between major and minor. In extended chords (7th, 9th, 11th and 13th) the 5th is usually omitted – partly to keep these chords from sounding too harmonically ‘dense’. The 5th is a very strong-sounding interval, lending itself more to rock than jazzy extended chords. Another reason to omit the 5th is because we only have a finite number of strings and fingers to work with and something has to give! Ultimately, this can be a judgement call, but certain conventions have developed over time, so check out these examples to get you started.

Example 1

This Cmin7 is here for comparison with Example 2: note the 5th (G) on the fourth string. This isn’t a problem at all. In fact, this shape is probably what the majority of us reach for when asked to play a minor 7th chord. However, there is another voicing available in Example 2…

Example 2

This version of Cmin7 is somehow more ‘dark and mysterious’ sounding, less about the strong relationship between the root and 5th and more about the minor 3rd and (b) 7th. Sometimes chords like this are referred to as ‘shell’ voicings, as they outline the harmony minimally/without containing every note.

Example 3

This E7 (no 5th) gets its name from the D (b7), which in this case features on the 7th fret of the G string. There is no 5th (B) to be seen, which puts the focus on the major 3rd, b7th and roots on the top and bottom. Note this is essentially a C7 shape moved to a different position and can work at any fret.

Example 4

Using the same basic shape as Example 3 but shifting the highest note up a tone to the 7th fret (F#) changes the chord to an E9 – or to be more precise E dominant 9th (no 5th), as the 7th (D) is actually a b7th rather than the D# you will find in the E major scale.

Example 5

Shifting the b7th up a semitone to use the D# from the E major scale makes it a major 7th, so this chord becomes an Emaj9 (no 5th), the ‘major’ referring to the 7th and the 9th being the highest extension – for which we always presume the presence of a 7th, or this would be an add9 chord!

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How do you swap key caps?

mysupport.razer.com - How to replace keycaps on a Razer keyboard

Keycaps are the keys that you press on the keyboard. They are replaced for the following reasons:

Durability

Replace faded or broken ones

Improve the aesthetics and typing feel of the keyboard

To replace the keycaps, you need the following:

Keycap puller

Flathead screwdriver

You can view the video below for instructions or review a copy of the video transcript. Follow these instructions for proper removal and installation to prevent damaging the keycaps on your keyboard:

For optical keyboards:

Pull the keycap out gently from the keyboard using the keycap puller. Push the replacement keycap firmly in place. Note: Some larger keycaps such as the Shift and Enter keys will require stabilizers for a steadier typing experience. Insert the keyboard stabilizers into the stems on the backside of the keycaps before pushing it into place.

For mechanical keyboards:

Pull the keycap out gently from the keyboard using the keycap puller. Use a flathead screwdriver to lift the keycap on larger keys. Nudge any of the curved ends of the attached stabilizer bar outwards. Note: Remove the surrounding keycaps for easier removal and installation. To replace an existing stabilizer bar, hold its curved ends and pull outwards until they detach from the stabilizers. To attach its replacement, hold and align the stabilizer bar to the keyboard's stabilizers and push until it snaps into place. Insert the appropriate mechanical keyboard stabilizers. Insert one end of the bar into the stabilizer. Use a flathead screwdriver to nudge and hook the other end to install the keycap into the stabilizer bar. Firmly push the replacement keycap into place.

You should now have successfully replaced the keycaps on your Razer keyboard.

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