An added seventh note adds depth and sophistication to chord progressions, requiring musicians to understand all aspects of seventh chords for optimal performances.
As with triads, seventh chords are composed by stacking notes together on a staff in close spacing. The lowest note is known as the root and its surrounding notes are designated by their generic intervals above it (major, minor, diminished, or augmented) – this nomenclature will be used throughout this article.
Major
Most seventh chords are composed of major triads, but there are others built from minor triads and even less prevalent varieties (like half-diminished) which you might encounter more rarely outside film scores or jazz music. Their nomenclature may seem complex but here’s a general idea:
Each seventh chord has a distinctive flavor determined by which note is added; ascending one semitone from C brings us E flat; up another semitone brings F; etc.
Most seventh chords are named by their combination of triad type and seventh quality, often abbreviated to major, minor, dominant or half-diminished chords. Although there may be other kinds of seventh chords out there that might also exist these four are usually seen.
Minor
Minor seventh chords also create tension; they consist of a minor triad and diminished seventh (seven semitones above the root). There are less-common seventh chords built with augmented or raised leading tone triads; these chords are usually only found in film scores or jazz pieces.
Minor sevenths can create an atmosphere of sadness and longing in your music, adding depth and texture that makes the songs sound more emotionally complex. They work great as chord shapes for slower ballads as well as adding funky flare; practice until they become second nature until reaping your rewards!
Dominant
Unless otherwise specified, when a seventh chord contains neither major nor minor triads and its subthreshold has major or diminished sevenths, it is often referred to as a dominant seventh – particularly within modal jazz music.
The dominant seventh chord is one of the most frequently employed seventh chords in music, built upon any fifth scale degree from any given key and usually notated with an “7.”
To create a dominant seventh chord, take any major triad and add a major seventh interval above its root note (i.e. G dominant seventh chord would consist of G (root), B (major third) and D (major seventh). This type of chord feels unsteady but typically resolves back into tonic chord I eventually.
Half-diminished
Some refer to this chord as a minor 7 flat 5, and indeed it can often be written this way in chord-symbol notation. However, its official scale spelling is actually mb5 (see Scale and Chord Quality section for more information).
Note that unlike major and minor seventh chords, which are constructed using triads, half-diminished seventh chords do not rely on them; rather they utilize diminished triads which consist of stacking minor thirds.
This chord has an unforgettable sound, making it the perfect way to add tension in your music. By practicing these voicings all across the fretboard, you will discover they add emotion to your playing. Enjoy! – Nick
Augmented
Unoften underestimated, augmented chords add dissonant sounds to progressions that often go overlooked. While they can feel unresolved at times, when used effectively they can add tension and drama to your compositions.
An augmented chord is a major triad with its fifth note raised by one semitone. It may be written using either the plus sign (C aug) or simply with “aug” appended to its root note (C aug). Like diminished chords, they don’t sit within the major scale but belong more naturally with Harmonic and Melodic Minor scales due to its dissonant feel; their sharpened 5th creates discordance that must be resolved quickly in order to add tension in any progression.