Unit 7 Seventh Chords

Unit 7 Seventh ChordsAP Music TheoryMr. JacksonOther Tertian Chords In addition to TRIADS, you can continue to add thirds to tertian chords, resulting in other types of chords.

Now that we have looked at TRIADS, we are going to continue to examine SEVENTH CHORDS to see how they can enhance the function of music. Mostly used in JAZZSevenths: Members of the ChordJust like Triads, the notes (members) of sevenths chords are given names.

Types of Seventh Chords

Remember how we created triads on each scale degree? Lets do the same thing, only this time we are going to add another third to create seventh chords. Now that we have stacks of seventh chords lets begin to analyze what we have with each one. In order to avoid working with too many ledger lines, lets take the third stack and drop it an octave.

Now we can look at each stack of notes to determine quality.

When determining quality of a seventh chord, you always look at two things:1. The quality of the TRIAD (the first three notes)2. The quality of the SEVENTH (from the root of the triad to the top note)Determining the Quality of a Seventh Chord

TRIADSEVENTH We have a MAJOR TRIADM + M7 = MAJOR SEVENTH CHORD

IM7 We have a MAJOR SEVENTHDetermining the Quality of a Seventh ChordTRIADSEVENTH We have a MINOR TRIADm + m7 = MINOR SEVENTH CHORD

iim7We have a MINOR SEVENTH

Determining the Quality of a Seventh ChordTRIADSEVENTH We have a MINOR TRIADm + m7 = MINOR SEVENTH CHORD

iiim7We have a MINOR SEVENTH

Determining the Quality of a Seventh ChordTRIADSEVENTH We have a MAJOR TRIADM + M7 = MAJOR SEVENTH CHORD

IVM7We have a MAJOR SEVENTH

Determining the Quality of a Seventh ChordTRIADSEVENTH We have a MAJOR TRIADM + m7 = Major-Minor SEVENTH CHORD or the DOMINANT SEVENTH CHORD*V7We have a MINOR SEVENTH

* = The DOMINANT SEVENTH CHORD is one of the most common!Notice we are building a seventh chord on the fifth scale degree, or the DOMINANT. See where it gets its name? The DOMINANT SEVENTH chord? Determining the Quality of a Seventh ChordTRIADSEVENTH We have a MINOR TRIADm + m7 = MINOR SEVENTH CHORD

vim7We have a MINOR SEVENTH

Determining the Quality of a Seventh ChordTRIADSEVENTH We have a DIMINISHED TRIADdim + m7 = HALF DIMINISHED SEVENTH CHORD

vii7We have a MINOR SEVENTH

Diatonic Seventh Chords - Major So lets see what we came up with

There are a few more we need to see, so lets look at the seventh chords that are diatonic in the G Harmonic Minor Scale. So far we have been introduced to four types of Seventh Chords: Major Seventh Chord Minor Seventh Chord Dominant Seventh Chord Half Diminished Seventh ChordDiatonic Seventh Chords Harmonic Minor

The fully-diminished seventh chord occurs on the leading tone in harmonic minor because it is FULLY diminished! Its significant that the V7 chord is exactly the same in major and in the parallel harmonic minor! The supertonic seventh chord (ii7) in harmonic minor is half-diminished. Note that this is the same chord that occurs as the leading tone in the relative major. Determining the Quality of a Seventh ChordTRIADSEVENTH We have a DIMINISHED TRIADdim + dim7 = FULLY DIMINISHED SEVENTH CHORD

vii7We have a DIMINISHED SEVENTH

Now we have been introduced to the Five Basic Seventh Chords! Five Basic Seventh Chords Five Basic Seventh Chords: Major Seventh Chord ( M + M7 ) expressed as M7 or Maj7 Minor Seventh Chord ( m + m7 ) expressed as m7 or -7 Dominant Seventh Chord ( M + m7 ) expressed as 7 Half Diminished Seventh Chord ( dim + m7 ) expressed as 7 Usually occurs in the MAJOR leading-tone seventh chord Fully Diminished Seventh Chord ( dim + dim7 ) expressed as 7Usually occurs in the MINOR leading-tone seventh chordSeventh Chords (Showing Thirds)MajorminorDominant

HalfDiminishedFullyDiminishedWhat Seventh Chords to Use?

Important facts The V, V7 , and vii chords are the same in BOTH major and minor! The half-diminished seventh chord occurs on the leading tone in major (vii7) and the supertonic in minor (ii7).The ONLY place a fully-diminished seventh chord occurs is on the leading tone in minor (vii7). We are NOT using the: I7 or the i7 The III chord (AT ALL) The IV7 or iv7, vi7 or VI7. Its not necessary. Its not common. Its not characteristic of the period and/or style. SAVE IT for later levels of Theory, yes?? Seventh Chord InversionsSevenths: Root PositionIn Root Position,The ROOT is in the Bass

Sevenths: First InversionTo make a first inversion chord,We move the root up an octave

Sevenths: First InversionIn First Inversion,The THIRD is in the Bass

Sevenths: Second InversionTo make a second inversion chord,We move the root & 3rd up an octave.

Sevenths: Second InversionIn Second Inversion,The FIFTH is in the Bass.

Sevenths: Third InversionTo make a third inversion chord,We move the root, 3rd & 5th up an octave.

Sevenths: Third InversionIn Third Inversion,The SEVENTH is in the Bass.

Seventh Chord Inversions:

For each inversion, you must memorize which member of the chord is in the bass.Inversion Symbols and Figured Bass

Inversion Hotline664-765-4342If you can remember a phone number, you can remember inversions!

Lets call the number.TriadsSeventh ChordsInversion HotlineInversion Symbol

6

64

Lowest Note

Root

Third

Fifth

Lowest Note

Root

Third

Fifth

SeventhInversion Symbol

7

65

43

42

664-765-4342

1-664 is for MontserratMontserrat

Montserrat[mntsrt]is aBritish Overseas Territorylocated in theCaribbean.xSeventh Chord Inversion Summary

Lead Sheet Symbols: