Appendix 5 Other Seventh Chords (Major, Minor, Half Diminished
APPENDIX 5 OTHER SEVENTH CHORDS (MAJOR, MINOR, HALF DIMINISHED, DIMINISHED)
There are five qualities of seventh chords. In Module 14 we studied the dominant seventh chord. In this appendix, we will study the other four seventh chords: major seventh, minor seventh, half diminished seventh, and diminished seventh. In their simplest form, seventh chords have four notes, consecutive thirds apart. It is the quality of each of the thirds that determines the quality of the seventh chord. Additionally, determining the quality of the triad of the lowest three notes of the seventh chord and the quality of the seventh (from the lowest to the highest note) helps to determine the quality of the seventh chord. The seventh chords for C as the root are shown below.
C major 7 M triad + M7
C dom 7 M triad + m7
C minor 7 m triad + m7
C half dim7 ø triad + m7
C dim 7 ° triad + d7
Major Seventh Chords Major seventh chords consist of a major triad and a major seventh (M7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh.
GM triad
M7
GM seventh chord
In a major scale, major seventh chords are formed on the tonic and subdominant notes.
O T H E R
S E V E N T H
C H O R D S
Exercise 1 Draw major seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Minor Seventh Chords Minor seventh chords consist of a minor triad and a minor seventh (m7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh.
GM triad
M7
GM seventh chord
In a major scale, minor seventh chords are formed on the supertonic, mediant, and submediant notes.
Exercise 2 Draw minor seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Half Diminished Seventh Chords Half diminished seventh chords consist of a diminished triad and a minor seventh (m7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh. The half diminished seventh chord may also be identified by the “degree” sign slashed with a forward stroke (for example Gø7).
Gøtriad
m7
G half dim seventh chord OR Gøseventh chord
A P P E N D I X
5
In a major scale, half diminished seventh chords are formed on the leading tone note.
Exercise 3 Draw half diminished seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Diminished Seventh Chords Diminished seventh chords (also called “fully diminished” seventh chords), consist of a diminished triad and a diminished seventh (d7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh. The diminished seventh chord may also be identified with the “degree” sign (for example Gø7).
G°triad
d7
G dim seventh chord OR G°seventh chord
Diminished seventh chords are formed on the leading tone of the harmonic minor scale. In a major scale, half diminished seventh chords are formed on the leading tone note; in a harmonic scale, half diminished seventh chords are formed on the supertonic note.
Exercise 4 Draw diminished seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
O T H E R
S E V E N T H
C H O R D S
Exercise 5 Below each chord, write the letter name (A, B, C) and quality (M7, Dom7, m7, or ø7) for the seventh chords of the F major scale. The first one is done for you.
FM7
Exercise 6 Below each chord, write the letter name (A, B, C) and quality (M7, Dom7, m7, or ø7) for the seventh chords of the A natural minor scale. The first one is done for you.
Am7
There are five qualities of seventh chords. In Module 14 we studied the dominant seventh chord. In this appendix, we will study the other four seventh chords: major seventh, minor seventh, half diminished seventh, and diminished seventh. In their simplest form, seventh chords have four notes, consecutive thirds apart. It is the quality of each of the thirds that determines the quality of the seventh chord. Additionally, determining the quality of the triad of the lowest three notes of the seventh chord and the quality of the seventh (from the lowest to the highest note) helps to determine the quality of the seventh chord. The seventh chords for C as the root are shown below.
C major 7 M triad + M7
C dom 7 M triad + m7
C minor 7 m triad + m7
C half dim7 ø triad + m7
C dim 7 ° triad + d7
Major Seventh Chords Major seventh chords consist of a major triad and a major seventh (M7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh.
GM triad
M7
GM seventh chord
In a major scale, major seventh chords are formed on the tonic and subdominant notes.
O T H E R
S E V E N T H
C H O R D S
Exercise 1 Draw major seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Minor Seventh Chords Minor seventh chords consist of a minor triad and a minor seventh (m7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh.
GM triad
M7
GM seventh chord
In a major scale, minor seventh chords are formed on the supertonic, mediant, and submediant notes.
Exercise 2 Draw minor seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Half Diminished Seventh Chords Half diminished seventh chords consist of a diminished triad and a minor seventh (m7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh. The half diminished seventh chord may also be identified by the “degree” sign slashed with a forward stroke (for example Gø7).
Gøtriad
m7
G half dim seventh chord OR Gøseventh chord
A P P E N D I X
5
In a major scale, half diminished seventh chords are formed on the leading tone note.
Exercise 3 Draw half diminished seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Diminished Seventh Chords Diminished seventh chords (also called “fully diminished” seventh chords), consist of a diminished triad and a diminished seventh (d7) from the root of the chord up to the seventh. The diminished seventh chord may also be identified with the “degree” sign (for example Gø7).
G°triad
d7
G dim seventh chord OR G°seventh chord
Diminished seventh chords are formed on the leading tone of the harmonic minor scale. In a major scale, half diminished seventh chords are formed on the leading tone note; in a harmonic scale, half diminished seventh chords are formed on the supertonic note.
Exercise 4 Draw diminished seventh chords from the given root.
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
O T H E R
S E V E N T H
C H O R D S
Exercise 5 Below each chord, write the letter name (A, B, C) and quality (M7, Dom7, m7, or ø7) for the seventh chords of the F major scale. The first one is done for you.
FM7
Exercise 6 Below each chord, write the letter name (A, B, C) and quality (M7, Dom7, m7, or ø7) for the seventh chords of the A natural minor scale. The first one is done for you.
Am7
