We continue our chord study with an analysis of seventh chords.
A seventh chord is a four-note chord consisting of a basic triad plus a fourth note, the seventh degree of the major scale with the same root note.
This post will cover how to construct various types of seventh chords and provide examples for each type of chord.
It will also provide common fingerings for each type of chord, along with instruction on how to play them on a guitar with any root note.
Seventh Chords
There are four primary types of seventh chords including:
• Major seventh.
• Dominant seventh.
• Minor seventh.
• Minor seventh, flat five.
Each type of seventh chord has its own chord formula.
Major Seventh Chords
The chord formula for a major seventh chord is: 1, 3, 5, 7.
A major seventh chord contains the first, third, fifth and seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
For example, a Cmaj7 (or C major seventh) chord contains the notes C, E, G and B (fig.2a) — the first, third, fifth and seventh notes in a C major scale (fig.1).
Fig.1
Major seventh chords have a bright quality about them and are a little more colorful than major triads.
Dominant Seventh Chords
The chord formula for a dominant seventh chord is: 1, 3, 5, b7.
A dominant seventh chord contains the first, third, fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
A C7 (or C dominant seventh) chord contains the notes C, E, G and Bb — the first, third, fifth and flatted seventh notes in a C major scale (fig.2b).
Dominant seventh chords have a dissonant (tense) quality about them.
Minor Seventh Chords
The chord formula for a minor seventh chord is: 1, b3, 5, b7.
A minor seventh chord contains the first, flatted third, fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
A Cm7 (or C minor seventh) chord contains the notes C, Eb, G and Bb — the first, flatted third, fifth and flatted seventh notes in a C major scale (fig.2c).
Minor seventh chords have a dark quality about them and are a little more dissonant than minor triads.
Minor Seventh, Flat Five Chords
The chord formula for a minor seventh, flat five chord is: 1, b3, b5, b7.
A minor seventh, flat five chord contains the first, flatted third, flatted fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
A Cm7(b5) (or minor seventh, flat five) chord contains the notes C, Eb, Gb and Bb — the first, flatted third, flatted fifth and flatted seventh notes in a C major scale (fig.2d).
Minor seventh, flat five chords are also called half-diminished chords. They have an unsettled quality about them.
Fig.2
Seventh Chords Based on an Eb Major Scale
All of the seventh chords in the examples above had C root notes, so the chord formulas were based on a C major scale.
We will now look at the same chord types with Eb root notes, whose formulas are based on an Eb major scale (fig.3).
Fig.3
Ebmaj7 Chord
The chord formula for a major seventh chord is: 1, 3, 5, 7.
A major seventh chord contains the first, third, fifth and seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
An Ebmaj7 chord contains the notes Eb, G, Bb and D — the first, third, fifth and seventh notes in an Eb major scale (fig.4a).
Eb7 Chord
The chord formula for a dominant seventh chord is: 1, 3, 5, b7.
A dominant seventh chord contains the first, third, fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
An an Eb7 chord contains the notes Eb, G, Bb and Db — the first, third, fifth and flatted seventh notes in an Eb major scale (fig.4b).
Ebm7 Chord
The chord formula for a minor seventh chord is: 1, b3, 5, b7.
A minor seventh chord contains the first, flatted third, fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
An Ebm7 chord contains the notes Eb, Gb, Bb and Db — the first, flatted third, fifth and flatted seventh notes in an Eb major scale (fig.4c).
Ebm7(b5) Chord
The chord formula for a minor seventh, flat five chord is: 1, b3, b5, b7.
A minor seventh, flat five chord contains the first, flatted third, flatted fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
An Ebm7(b5) chord contains the notes Eb, Gb, Bbb and Db — the first, flatted third, flatted fifth and flatted seventh notes in an Eb major scale (fig.4d).
Fig.4
Summary of Seventh Chord Formulas
The four seventh chord formulas covered in this post are summarized below:
• Major seventh: 1, 3, 5, 7.
• Dominant seventh: 1, 3, 5, b7.
• Minor seventh: 1, b3, 5, b7.
• Minor Seventh, flat five: 1, b3, b5, b7.
Seventh Chords Based on All 12 Root Notes
The seventh chords based on all 12 root notes are shown in fig.5.
Fig.5
Seventh Chords on a Guitar
Major Seventh Chords
A common fingering for a major seventh chord is shown in fig.6.
Fig.6
This fingering will allow you to play a major seventh chord with any root note:
- To play a Cmaj7, place your first finger on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.7a).
- To play an Ebmaj7, place your first finger on the Eb on the sixth string, 11th fret (fig.7b).
Fig.7
Dominant Seventh Chords
A common fingering for a dominant seventh chord is shown in fig.8.
Fig.8
This fingering will allow you to play a dominant seventh chord with any root note:
- To play a C7, place your first finger on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.9a).
- To play an Eb7, place your first finger on the Eb on the sixth string, 11th fret (fig.9b).
Fig.9
Minor Seventh Chords
A common fingering for a minor seventh chord is shown in fig.10.
Fig.10
This fingering will allow you to play a minor seventh chord with any root note:
- To play a Cm7, place your second finger on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.11a).
- To play an Ebm7, place your second finger on the Eb on the sixth string, 11th fret (fig.11b).
Fig.11
Minor Seventh, Flat Five Chords
A common fingering for a major seventh, flat five chord is shown in fig.12.
Fig.12
This fingering will allow you to play a minor seventh, flat five chord with any root note:
- To play a Cm7(b5), place your second finger on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.13a).
- To play anEbm7(b5), place your second finger on the Eb on the sixth string, 11th fret (fig.13b).
Fig.13
Voicings
There are numerous ways to play a seventh chord on a guitar and you should become familiar with as many of them as possible. Seventh chords can be played as open chords, barre chords or on any set of four strings.
Regardless of how you play a seventh chord, it will contain the notes indicated by the formulas covered in this post.
Chord Qualities
Seventh chords create a more complex sound than triads and are generally more dissonant. They are most commonly found in blues and jazz styles of music, although they are often used in other forms of music as well.
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