7th chords can help create the mood and texture of piano music across many genres, but understanding them may seem challenging.
Think of seventh chords as triads with an additional note added on, altering their interval relationship by increasing or decreasing one note from their root, third, or seventh position.
1. Major
Seventh chords add depth and dimension to traditional major and minor chords, adding tension or warmth. Seventh chords are created by adding an eighth note a seventh interval above the root of a triad – there are five types of seventh chords which each bring their own special sound to your music.
Major sevenths can be found in many styles of music ranging from romantic ballads to soul, due to their warm texture. Furthermore, major sevenths add strength and definition at the end of cadences, providing greater strength to them overall.
To play a dominant seventh chord, one needs a firm grasp on major and minor chords and their interval qualities. Once that has been established, use this lesson in Skoove to learn a 12-bar blues progression featuring dominant seventh chords on your left hand.
2. Minor
If you frequently use chord progressions in your work, it is beneficial to understand their individual sounds and interactions. When employing V/I cadences adding minor seventh chords can really add strength and tension – adding them is particularly effective for making those cadences stronger.
Minor seventh chords can be formed by taking a minor triad and adding a minor seventh interval above it; for example C – Eb – Gb – Bb (with Bb being double flat). This creates an unnerving and slightly terrifying chord!
A half diminished seventh chord is another tense but cool chord to use if you want to add an extra jazzy edge to your music! Created by taking a diminished chord and adding a minor seventh over top, this chord has a very unique feeling and when used appropriately can add another layer of jazziness!
3. Dominant
This chord, comprised of a major triad plus a minor seventh above its root, is frequently employed in blues progressions as a dominant chord. Additionally, it can serve as a replacement tonic chord in songs for more distinctive soundscapes than typical tonic chords can provide.
Dominant seventh chords have become an essential component of many blues songs due to their ability to add tension in melodies and modulate to different keys seamlessly, thanks to their non-keyed voicings that can add tension across musical cadences.
An alternate approach for creating dominant seventh chords involves stacking two thirds on top of the tonic and creating an easy triad, making a dominant seventh chord accessible across any major key.
4. Minor-Dominant
Are you searching for ways to add tension in your chord progressions? Look no further than the minor-dominant seventh chord; its dissonant sound will create an engaging and exciting soundscape.
The easiest way to create this chord is by flattening a minor seven flat five chord. This produces the same sound, yet with more tension.
Understanding these intervals is vital in creating tension and mood in piano music, since chords form the core of every tune and how they’re combined can significantly change its feel. I hope this has been informative and inspired you to compose your own musical masterpieces! LANDR Blog.
5. Major-Minor
When looking to add some grandeur and drama to your chord progressions, these chords may be perfect. Most commonly found in Blues music (and therefore rock), but can be applied across genres to add drama and emotion.
These chords can be composed by adding a major seventh (7 intervals above) to an otherwise minor triad, such as C – E – G with an added major seventh, as shown above. This creates a major chord with minor sound; an example being Coldplay’s song ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’.
These chords are frequently employed in jazz music to evoke feelings of soulfulness and serenity. Additionally, they’re highly effective when combined with other types of seventh chords such as minor and diminished for a rich, soothing sound.