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In the previous article, we discussed triads – their structure, functions, and application in music. Now it’s time for the next step in harmony: four-note chords. They are essential in jazz, pop, and classical music, adding more depth and color to harmonic progressions. During music lessons at Music Vox Studio in Kraków we help students develop their musical skills on various instruments and in singing through practical exercises and helpful resources, making it easier to understand music and create their own projects.

What are seventh chords?

Seventh chords are chords consisting of four tones, usually built in thirds. The structure of such a chord is closely related to that of a triad and extended by one more third — the fourth note is interpreted as the seventh of the chord.

Types of seventh chords and their structure

1. Dominant seventh (7) – built from a major triad with an added minor seventh (e.g., G7: G–B–D–F).
2. Major seventh (maj7) – built from a major triad and a major seventh (e.g., Cmaj7: C–E–G–B).
3. Minor seventh (m7) – based on a minor triad and a minor seventh (e.g., Am7: A–C–E–G).
4. Minor-major seventh (m(maj7)) – based on a minor triad and a major seventh (e.g., Am(maj7): A–C–E–G#).
5. Half-diminished (m7♭5) – built from a diminished triad and a minor seventh (e.g., Bm7♭5: B–D–F–A).
6. Diminished seventh (dim7) – consists of a diminished triad and a diminished seventh (e.g., Cdim7: C–E♭–G♭–B♭♭(A)).

Chord symbols and notation

The following table shows how each type of seventh chord is commonly notated in contemporary music (all examples use the root note C):

Type of Chord	Symbol	Notes
Major with major seventh	Cmaj7, CΔ7, CΔ, Cma7
Major with minor seventh (dominant)	C7
Dominant with raised fifth	C7♯5, C7aug, Caug7, C+7
Dominant with lowered fifth	C7♭5
Minor with major seventh	Cm(maj7), C−Δ7, C−maj7
Minor with minor seventh	Cm7, Cmin7, C−7
Half-diminished	Cm7♭5, Cø, Cø7, Cmin7♭5
Diminished seventh	Cdim7, C°7
Diminished with major seventh	C°maj7, C°Δ, C°Δ7

Exercises and tips

1. Practice the various types of four-note chords:
   • Use our backing tracks:
     • Major with major seventh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FscB_zdJ7yk
     • Major with minor seventh (dominant): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EY7K4JB_NU
     • Minor with major seventh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_8ktViXQk
     • Minor with major seventh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iBjf4EyiCY
     • Half-diminished: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDucGHF4VKY
     • Diminished: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko5K2Bm5aUY
   • Play, sing, and name the notes of each chord from memory at a steady tempo.
2. Apply seventh chords in improvisation and accompaniment to any song – build melodies based on chord tones and use your knowledge of chord construction to freely play them in real music.

Conclusion

Seventh chords are a crucial element of harmony, adding richness and expression to music. Mastering them is a great way to develop your understanding of harmony and to improvise more freely. They also provide a solid foundation for learning scales (pentatonic, hexatonic, heptatonic, etc.) and advanced harmony.

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