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Comprehensive Review of Compound Seventh Chords

Review of Solfege and Function

Seventh Chords In Root Position

Chord Name double diminished (fully diminished) 7 half diminished (diminished minor) 7 minor-minor 7 major-minor 7 major-major 7
Symbol dd 7 dm 7 mm 7 Mm 7 MM 7
Intervallic Structure of the Chord diminished triad + major third OR three stacked minor 3rds diminished triad + major 3rd minor triad + minor 3rd major triad + minor 3rd major triad + major 3rd
Common Harmonic Function vii07 in minor keys iiØ7 in minor keys OR viiØ7 in major keys ii7 OR vi7 in major keys V7 in major AND minor keys rare in classical music; commoner in jazz and pop
Solfege ti re fa le re fa le do OR ti re fa la re fa la do OR la do mi sol sol ti re fa do mi sol ti

Context Review

Study the following scores and listen to them on the Spotify playlist “UI Aural Skills III Seventh Chords” by user “mirandawilson.”

  • dd7: Johann Sebastian Bach (attrib.), Toccata and Fugue Toccata and Fugue
  • dm7: Richard Wagner, “Vorspiel” from Tristan und Isolde Tristan
  • mm7: Claude Debussy, *La fille aux cheveux de lin** Debussy
  • Mm7: Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata Op. 2 No. 3, I Mm7 in Beethoven Op. 2 No. 3
  • MM7: Pat Ballard, “Mr. Sandman” MM7 in Mr. Sandman

Inverting Seventh Chords

Review the following table of the inversions and spellings of seventh chords.

Position Intervallic Relation Abbreviation
Root Position 1-3-5-7 7
First Inversion 1-3-5-6 6/5
Second Inversion 1-3-4-6 4/3
Third Inversion 1-2-4-6 4/2

Piano Practice - Inverting Seventh Chords

Review how the inversions of the seventh chords feel under your fingers on the piano keyboard. Play them blocked, then arpeggiated. Notice how they are similar to, and different from each other. Improvise contexts for them using your knowledge of chord progressions and voice-leading.

Seventh Chords in All Inversions

Singing Practice - Seventh Chords in Solfege and Context

Review this singing warm-up, paying special attention to finding your intervals in a vocally independent manner (i.e. with minimal reference to pitches on the piano).

Seventh Chords in Harmonic Context

Compound Seventh Chords - Intervallic Relations

Review the following table of intervallic relations within compound seventh chords. Memorize these rules for easy recall.

(intervallic relation) fully diminished (dd) half diminished (dm) minor-minor (mm) major-minor (Mm) major-major (MM)
contains tritones? 2 (ti-fa, re-le) 1 (ti-fa OR re-le) 0 1 (ti-fa) 0
contains P5 or P4? no 1 (re-la OR fa-do) 2 (re-la and fa-do OR la-mi and do-sol) 1 (sol-re) 2 (do-sol, mi-ti)
what type of 7th? diminished (ti-le) minor (ti-la OR re-do) minor (re-do OR la-sol) minor (sol-fa) major (do-ti)

Compound Seventh Chords - Quick Identification

Review and memorize the flow chart to sort through information quickly and eliminate potential wrong answers.

Flow Chart

Piano Practice - Inversions and Contexts

Practice the following contexts for compound seventh chords at the piano. Notice the voice-leading, and play the chords both blocked and arpeggiated, as well as playing the four voices separately to hear their linear shapes.

dd7

dm7

mm7

Mm7

MM7