Seventh Chords
A seventh chord is a triad with an added note, which is either a major seventh above the root, a minor seventh above the root (flatted 7th), or a diminished seventh above the root (double flatted 7th). Note that the diminished seventh note is enharmonically equivalent to the major sixth above the root of the chord. When not otherwise specified, the name "seventh chord" may more specifically refer to a major triad with an added minor seventh (a dominant seventh chord).
The table below shows names, symbols, and definitions for the various kinds of seventh chords (using C as root).
| Name | Symbols | Definitions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short | Long | Altered fifth |
Component intervals | Integers | Notes | |||
| Third | Fifth | Seventh | ||||||
| Seventh (dominant seventh) |
C7 | Cdom7 | major | perfect | minor | {0, 4, 7, 10} | C-E-G-B♭ | |
| Major seventh | CM7 CMa7 C j7 CΔ7 CΔ |
Cmaj7 | major | perfect | major | {0, 4, 7, 11} | C-E-G-B | |
| Minor-major seventh | CmM7 Cm♯7 C−M7 C−Δ7 C−Δ |
Cminmaj7 | minor | perfect | major | {0, 3, 7, 11} | C-E♭-G-B | |
| Minor seventh | Cm7 C-7 |
Cmin7 | minor | perfect | minor | {0, 3, 7, 10} | C-E♭-G-B♭ | |
| Augmented-major seventh (major seventh sharp five) |
C+M7 C+Δ |
Caugmaj7 | CM7♯5 / CM7+5 CΔ♯5 / CΔ+5 |
major | augmented | major | {0, 4, 8, 11} | C-E-G♯-B |
| Augmented seventh (dominant seventh sharp five) |
C+7 | Caug7 | C7♯5 / C7+5 | major | augmented | minor | {0, 4, 8, 10} | C-E-G♯-B♭ |
| Half-diminished seventh (minor seventh flat five) |
CØ / CØ7 Cø / Cø7 |
Cmin7dim5 | Cm7♭5 / Cm7°5 C−7♭5 / C−7°5 |
minor | diminished | minor | {0, 3, 6, 10} | C-E♭-G♭-B♭ |
| Diminished seventh | Co7 C°7 |
Cdim7 | minor | diminished | diminished | {0, 3, 6, 9} | C-E♭-G♭-B | |
| Seventh flat five (dominant seventh flat five) |
C7♭5 | Cdom7dim5 | major | diminished | minor | {0, 4, 6, 10} | C-E-G♭-B♭ | |
Many possible format variations are possible. The superscripts may be also written as ordinary font, sometimes separated by a slash from the preceding parts of the symbol, or written within parentheses. For instance:
- CM7 may be written CM7
- CmM7 may be written as CmM7, Cm/M7, or Cm(M7).
Except for the root, all the other parts of the symbols may be superscripted. For instance:
- CM7 may be written CM7
- CM7♯5 may be written CM7♯5, or CM7♯5.
Some 7th chords can be considered as triad chords with alternate bass. Examples:
- Cm7 = C-E♭-G-B♭ = E♭/C
- Cmaj7 = C-E-G-B = Em/C
Read more about this topic: Chord Names And Symbols (popular Music)
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