Lesson 3b - Seventh Chords

Seventh chords are most easily thought of as an extension of triads, and our labeling system reflects this. In the same that we create a triad by stacking two 3rds, we create a seventh chord by adding another 3rd on top of a triad. They are called seventh chords because this new pitch creates an interval of a 7th between the chordal root and the new pitch.

Because they are stacked thirds, seventh chords are still considered tertian harmony. They are prevalent in almost all styles of Western music, and we have developed many systems to describe how they function harmonically. Again though, we must first be able to classify and label them in an structural manner that does not rely on key-based functions. We name the chord members by the distance above the bottom pitch when the chord is stacked in thirds:

• the lowest pitch is called the root of the chord
• the pitch that is a 3rd above the root is called the chordal third
• the pitch that is a 5th above the root is called the chordal fifth
• the pitch that is a 7th above the root is called the chordal seventh

Seventh chord inversions

All seventh chords have exactly four unique notes, although certain chord members can occasionally be omitted (and therefore implied) depending on the context. With four pitches, there are four possible configurations that depend on which note of the triad is in the lowest voice. Like triads, we call these inversions, and we use the same shorthand system to label inversions that we used with triads.

Goals for this topic

Using the examples below:

• determine what role each chordal member (e.g. root, third, fifth, etc.) plays in determining the quality of a seventh chord
  • How does this relate to triads?
• find all six intervals between the chordal members of a root-position seventh chord for each of the following chord qualities:
  • major seventh, minor seventh, dominant seventh, half-diminished, fully-diminished
• explain how we determine both words of each of the alternate names for seventh chords
  • Major major (MM), major minor (Mm), minor minor (mm), diminished minor (dm), and diminished diminished (dd)
• find the following interval sizes between chordal members of a seventh chord (Hint: This may involve moving some chord members up or down an octave)
  • seconds (1)
  • thirds (3)
  • fourths (2)
  • fifths (2)
  • sixths (3)
  • sevenths (1)
• relate these intervals to our system for labeling seventh-chord inversions
  • provide inversion figures for root-position, first-inversion, second-inversion, and third-inversion seventh chords
• be able to explain how to turn any inverted and/or open-voiced seventh chord into a root-position seventh chord in a closed voicing

Seventh chord qualities

Seventh chord inversions

Because ABC notation is not capable of using superscript, the inversion figures in the next example are notated as fractions. If you were to write these by hand or use custom notation software, you would notate all inversion figures using superscript. For example, a dominant seventh chord with C as a root would be written as C⁷

Seventh chord voicings

Conclusions

A seventh chord is a diatonic chord containing four pitches stacked in thirds.

There are 5 types of seventh chords, and we will be using both of the commonly used terms for them:

• Major major (abbreviated MM) or major seventh chord
• Major minor (abbreviated Mm) or dominant seventh chord
• Minor minor (abbreviated mm) or minor seventh chord
• Diminished minor (abbreviated dm) or *half-diminished seventh chord
• Diminished diminished (abbreviated dd) or fully-diminished seventh chord

These terms are interchangeable but they are typically used in different circles. We will refer to them as the pedagogical name (e.g. major major, etc.) and common name (e.g. major seventh chord, etc.).

The pedagogical names are useful in illustrating the structure of a seventh chord and therefore is often used by theory teachers. The first word represents the quality of the base triad on which the seventh chord is built (e.g. major triad on bottom), and the second word describes the interval between the root and the chordal seventh. This description explains the nature of the pedagogical categorization–it mixes a chord quality with an interval quality. The first word always describes the triad (the bottom three pitches) while the second word describes the interval quality between the root and the seventh chordal member. This interval is always assumed to be a 7th.

• Major major (major seventh chord): major triad + M7
• Major minor (dominant seventh chord): major triad + m7
• Minor minor (minor seventh chord): minor triad + m7
• Diminished minor (half-diminished seventh chord): diminished triad + m7
• Diminished diminished (fully-diminished seventh chord): diminished triad + d7

Building on your knowledge of inversion figures from triads, it should be possible to derive the seventh chord system. Like triad inversions, they:

• use the intervals above the bass, not the root of the chord.
• are written in superscript next to your chord quality (or Roman numeral when we get there).
• have abbreviated versions that will be used rather than writing out every interval

There are four possible inversions for seventh chords. Below, you will find their abbreviated forms (most commonly used) and their full interval forms in parentheses. Remember that when written by hand or in music notation software, you will stack the numbers and not include a slash between them.

• Root position: 7 (7/5/3)
• First Inversion: 6/5 (6/5/3)
• Second Inversion: 4/3 (6/4/3)
• Third Inversion: 4/2 (6/4/2)

As a reminder, we will be using the term inversion figure to discuss this shorthand method of identifying inversions. Other systems refer to these same superscript numbers as figured bass, bass position Symbols, or figures, but we need not argue about which name is better. As long as the student understands the difference between inversion figures, true figured bass (i.e. Baroque system for writing keyboard harmonies), and the shorthand used in leadsheet notation, it will make no difference in your effectiveness.