Learn how to build a seventh chord from the chord symbol on a chart. Demystify which seventh goes with which chord quality.
Triads are chords that have three notes- the 1st , 3rd & 5th of their scale, and seventh chords (sometimes known as tetrads or tetrachords) have four notes- the 1st, 3rd, 5th & 7th of their scale. The 4th note in a seventh chord happens to be the interval of a 7th from the root, giving the tetrachord the name “seventh chord”. Think of the seventh chord as a continuation of a triad, following the scale that the chord belongs to. So, for example, if we have a C Maj triad, and it is a tonic or root major triad (meaning it is built on the first note of a major scale) we will follow the C major scale to add the 4th note. The 4th note in this case would be B, which is a major 7th interval from C. This means that if we extend the C major triad, we get a C Maj 7 chord, because we follow the C major scale and the C major scale has a B which is a major 7th from the root.
There are only 3 options for the 7th: Major 7th- like in Major chords or in minor/major 7th chords. Minor 7th- like in minor 7th chords, or dominant chords. Diminished 7th- like in Diminished chords. You will find the appropriate 7th by following the related scale, but if you want a quick cheat here it is:
1. Major 7th- is one half step below the root of the chord and it goes with: Major & minor/Major 7th chords (there also exists a diminished major 7th chord)
2. Minor 7th- is two half steps below the root of the chord and it goes with: Dominant, Minor & Half diminished chords
3. Diminished 7th – is three half steps below the root of the chord and it goes with: Diminished chords
A chart showing which seventh goes with which chord quality, and how to find the seventh by following the appropriate scale.
Seventh chords often have “special features” or extensions and alterations, particularly dominant 7th chords. Extensions- are extra notes that can be added to the chord from its’ related scale, like 9, 11 or 13 to add colour. Alterations- also mean extensions but refer to the ones that have the sharps or flats added to imply another scale/sound.
Extensions (numbers above 7 in a chord symbol) can be confusing but since there are only 7 notes in each scale and mode, 9,11,13 are actually repetitions of notes that already are in the scale, just an octave above. So, if you have a C major scale, C is 1, D is 2, which means that the C above is 8, if you keep going, the D above the top C would be 9, 11 is F and 13 is A. These extensions can have different alterations, but there are rules depending on the quality of the chord.
· Minor 7: can be with b6 (b13), or b5 (also known as half diminished)
· Dominant 7th: can be with b9,#9, #11, b13- in different combinations
The above alterations imply a different scale when they are added to the chord. Stay tuned for next week’s article on extensions and alterations and the scales/modes they imply.
To get new articles directly in your inbox every week click HERE.
If you have any questions or need lessons email me at tetyanahar@gmail.com
Comments