Seventh chords are an integral component of jazz, blues and even funky funk progressions – this worksheet covers five types of seventh chords to identify their characteristics, harmonic function and solfege.
Learn to navigate smoothly between two full series of seventh chord “evolutions” using this Musicarta module’s line-and-diamond diagram as your guide.
Major
A major seventh chord consists of its root plus the third, fifth and seventh intervals above it. As with triads, major seventh chords can be stacked into thirds on adjacent lines and spaces of the staff – creating the appearance of an extra-long snowman-esque figure! In closed spacing a major seventh chord looks like this.
As with triads, each seventh chord quality can be distinguished using its Roman numeral representation: for instance a minor seventh chord would be denoted with “m7”, while its dominant equivalent “d7”.
Examining a chord’s cadential pattern can also reveal its quality. Seventh chords often resolve by either falling-fifth or rising-fourth motions that move towards lower notes sonorities; for instance, an iv7 chord usually resolves into V chord (scale degree 5) when played slowly enough.
Minor
Minor seventh chords are an integral component in many melodic progressions and typically feature an easygoing sound. Although less popular, non-tertian harmony arrangements may also incorporate these chords.
As with triads, seventh chords can be identified by their root, quality, and inversion. A typical seventh chord’s root can be represented on a staff as an extra-long snowman (see Example 1) while its notes correspond to third, fifth, and seventh notes respectively above it.
Subtracting a seventh interval to a major triad results in a maj7 chord, widely recognized for its smooth and sophisticated sound. You can utilize them in jazz, bossa nova and other genres of music to add elegance.
Dominant
Dominant seventh chords are an effective means of creating tension before releasing into a tonic triad, often found in rock, blues, and pop music as well as constituting large portions of harmonic progressions found in well-known songs.
A dominant seventh chord (also referred to as V7 chords) consists of four notes arranged as follows: root, major third and flattened seventh interval from scale a fifth below tonic note (usually fifth below tonic). V7 chords can be found in any key.
To read a dominant seventh chord, imagine it like a regular triad in closed spacing with threes stacked on adjacent lines or spaces of the staff. Note that its seventh note may be lowered for half-diminished chord effect by taking minor seven flat five and flattening it one step; or simply write out as C7b5 for easier reading or C7#5 when written out chromatically.
Mixture
Mixture is the process of borrowing scale degrees from another key to alter the quality of chords. This can occur in various ways – for instance, a minor key triad could use leading tone from its parallel major key as part of its transformation into a V chord (Example 30-6).
Secondary mixture allows one to alter a seventh chord by adding an extra chromatic tone from another key – for instance, from G’s root note we can make it major by adding Cb as its parallel key tone.
Recognizing and being able to identify different seventh chord qualities using Roman numeral names is vital for distinguishing chords that contain accidentals more easily, and for triad recognition without doubled closure spacing or enharmonic equivalence.