Need help playing 7th chords

[thorrian]

Okay, so I just started playing 3 weeks ago and I am now learning 7th chords.  I understand how the C & G 7th chords work but a odd thing happened.  While learning the D7 I noticed that when I have to use my thumb with my left hand to reach up to C, that very same C is middle C(my book has me playing one octave below middle C for harmony) and I am not sure if I am supposed to be playing middle C with that chord or bringing the whole chord down a octave.  When I bring it down a octave it sounds too low for the song I am playing but I feel like if I play the normal octave I have been playing harmony with it will interfere with my right hand that is playing the melody.  Am I going insane?  I feel so frustrated because this is holding up my progress. 

Also a question about F7, so you play the C, F & A(my book has me playing it one octave below middle C as stated before) but while trying to make it into a F7 with the extra E flat my book shows the diagram as playing the A that is to the left of the C I normally play that chord with, but I have been playing the A that is closer to middle C.  I am so confused...which am I supposed to be playing?

I know this might be hard to understand but if anyone can understand it can you please help provide me some direction?

I am trying so hard to learn but need some help here.

[rsp1]

First, as long as you have the notes D F# A C, regardless of order (F# A C D; A C F# D; A F# D C), then you have a D7 chord.  F A C Eb is F7, and so on.

In general, you will want to "voice" the chords so that the lowest note is no lower than the C below middle C when playing as block chords (in reality, the E above that is usually better for your low end).  You can go lower if they are arpeggiated (played one note after the other.)

Different books vary on how the present chords.  Personally, I would recommend that you learn each one first in root position (the name of the chord is the lowest note).  Then learn each of the inversions.  In actual usage, your choice of chord inversion will generally be determined by the chord that preceeds and follows it.  The goal is to make smooth connections from one to the next.

[synthex]

?

[samasap]

I agree with the comment below, you should first off work all the chords out in their root position, and then play around with inverting them.

I think you should stick to playing the chords with one hand though, so with regards to D7, if you are playing it in your right hand for example, then you could play it so your thumb is on d, your 2nd finger is on f# your third finger on a, and your fifth finger on C. So you are just extending your hand out. You should be able to do chords with one hand and not both.

Also with regards to the other seventh chords, just make sure you have the correct notes, and that you use the correct fingering, but the order you play them in doesn't matter as such if you plan on inverting them so for F7 in your left hand and you wanted to invert it just below middle c you could do....Eb with your fifth, F with your fourth, A with your second and Middle C with your THUMB!

Hope this helps you out a bit....Let me know if you want any further help. 

[thorrian]

Thank you guys very very much for responding!!!!  I was worried I confused everyone reading this post so much that no one would have any idea what I was talking about, lol.  I went to Mozart's Requiem last week at the Phoenix Symphony and met a man there who teaches piano and he told me that my book is introducing me to chord inversion even though it is not telling me that's what it is.  After reading what you guys said and hearing what he said it makes perfect sense about the chord inversion, haha.  The only tough part is getting my fingers used to playing several different positions for the same chord, lol.  Piano is a real toughy