2.2 Seventh Chords in Major and Minor Keys

Seventh chords add depth to music by stacking four notes. They come in five types: dominant, major, minor, half-diminished, and fully diminished. Each has a unique sound and structure, building on the basic triads we've learned.

In major and minor keys, seventh chords follow specific patterns. They're built on each scale degree, creating a rich harmonic palette. Understanding these chords helps us grasp how composers create tension and resolution in music.

Seventh Chord Types

Construction and Qualities

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• Seventh chord formed by adding a diatonic seventh above the root of a triad
• Dominant seventh consists of a major triad with a minor seventh above the root (example: G7 in C major)
• Major seventh consists of a major triad with a major seventh above the root (example: Cmaj7)
• Minor seventh consists of a minor triad with a minor seventh above the root (example: Dmin7)
• Half-diminished seventh consists of a diminished triad with a minor seventh above the root (example: Bø7 in C major)
• Fully diminished seventh consists of a diminished triad with a diminished seventh above the root (example: Bdim7)

Intervallic Structures

• Dominant seventh contains the intervals M3, P5, and m7 above the root (example: G7 - G B D F)
• Major seventh contains the intervals M3, P5, and M7 above the root (example: Cmaj7 - C E G B)
• Minor seventh contains the intervals m3, P5, and m7 above the root (example: Dmin7 - D F A C)
• Half-diminished seventh contains the intervals m3, d5, and m7 above the root (example: Bø7 - B D F A)
• Fully diminished seventh contains the intervals m3, d5, and d7 above the root (example: Bdim7 - B D F Ab)

Diatonic Seventh Chords

Seventh Chords in Major Keys

• Diatonic seventh chords are seventh chords built on each degree of the major or minor scale
• In major keys, the diatonic seventh chords are:
  • I: Major seventh (example: Cmaj7 in C major)
  • ii: Minor seventh (example: Dmin7 in C major)
  • iii: Minor seventh (example: Emin7 in C major)
  • IV: Major seventh (example: Fmaj7 in C major)
  • V: Dominant seventh (example: G7 in C major)
  • vi: Minor seventh (example: Amin7 in C major)
  • vii°: Half-diminished seventh (example: Bø7 in C major)

Seventh Chords in Minor Keys

• In minor keys, the diatonic seventh chords are:
  • i: Minor seventh (example: Cmin7 in C minor)
  • ii°: Half-diminished seventh (example: Dø7 in C minor)
  • III: Major seventh (example: Ebmaj7 in C minor)
  • iv: Minor seventh (example: Fmin7 in C minor)
  • V: Dominant seventh (example: G7 in C minor)
  • VI: Major seventh (example: Abmaj7 in C minor)
  • VII: Dominant seventh (example: Bb7 in C minor)
• Leading tone seventh is the vii° chord in major keys or the ii° chord in minor keys, which contains the leading tone of the scale (example: Bø7 in C major or Dø7 in C minor)