Seventh Chords
Harmony in four notes
Dominant seventh
- Symbol
- C7
- Formula
- 1 3 5 ♭7
- From C
- C E G B♭
- Where it is used
- The V7 chord that pulls toward the tonic; blues and rock also use it without resolving.
Major seventh
- Symbol
- Cmaj7
- Formula
- 1 3 5 7
- From C
- C E G B
- Where it is used
- A smooth major chord with a major seventh above the root.
Minor seventh
- Symbol
- Cm7
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 5 ♭7
- From C
- C E♭ G B♭
- Where it is used
- The ii chord of the ii–V–I progression and a staple of modal jazz.
Minor-major seventh
- Symbol
- Cm(maj7)
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 5 7
- From C
- C E♭ G B
- Where it is used
- A minor triad with a major seventh, heard as a dark, suspended tension.
Half-diminished seventh
- Symbol
- Cm7♭5
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7
- From C
- C E♭ G♭ B♭
- Where it is used
- The iiø7 chord of a minor key, also written Cø7.
Diminished seventh
- Symbol
- Cdim7
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7
- From C
- C E♭ G♭ B𝄫
- Where it is used
- A symmetrical stack of minor thirds; B𝄫 sounds the same as A.
Augmented seventh
- Symbol
- C7♯5
- Formula
- 1 3 ♯5 ♭7
- From C
- C E G♯ B♭
- Where it is used
- A dominant seventh with a raised fifth, also written C+7.
Major seventh sharp fifth
- Symbol
- Cmaj7♯5
- Formula
- 1 3 ♯5 7
- From C
- C E G♯ B
- Where it is used
- An augmented triad with a major seventh; bright and unsettled.
Seventh suspended fourth
- Symbol
- C7sus4
- Formula
- 1 4 5 ♭7
- From C
- C F G B♭
- Where it is used
- A dominant chord with the fourth in place of the third.
Seventh flat five
- Symbol
- C7♭5
- Formula
- 1 3 ♭5 ♭7
- From C
- C E G♭ B♭
- Where it is used
- A dominant seventh with a lowered fifth.
Other chapters: Triads · Sixths and Added Notes · Extended and Altered Chords · Major and Minor Scales · The Modes · Pentatonic and Blues · Symmetrical Scales · Jazz Scales · Color Scales
Chord symbols and voicings vary by style. No chord–scale pairing is right in every context.
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