Guitar Chords: Seventh Chords
Seventh chords are made by adding the 7th or flat 7th note of a scale to a major or minor chord. In order to get a better understanding of how the notes of a scale are used to build seventh chords, the key of C will be used as example.
The Notes of the C Major Scale
| C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
The C Major Scale has no sharp or flat notes in its scale. A scale contains all the notes needed to make chords for that key. The 8th note is the octave note of the scale
Dominant Seventh Chords
Dominant Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one full step down from the root note of a major chord.
C E G + Bb
1 3 5 + 7b
| C | D | E | F | G | A | Bb | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7b | 8 |
Examples of movable Dominant Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) and A (5th) strings.
Dominant Seventh Chords are popular in blues music because of their naturally bluesy sound.
Major Seventh Chords
Major Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one half step down from the root note of a major chord.
C E G + B
1 3 5 + 7
| C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Examples of movable Major Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) and A (5th) strings.
Major Seventh Chords have a more romantic sound compared to Dominant Seventh Chords.
Minor Seventh Chords
Minor Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one full step down from the root note of a minor chord.
C Eb G + Bb
1 3b 5 + 7b
| C | D | Eb | F | G | A | Bb | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3b | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7b | 8 |
Examples of movable Minor Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) and A (5th) strings.
As most minor chords, Minor Seventh Chords have a sad sound.
Minor/Major Seventh Chords
Minor/Major Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one half step down from the root note of a minor chord.
C Eb G + B
1 3b 5 + 7
| C | D | Eb | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3b | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Examples of movable Minor/Major Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) and A (5th) strings.
Minor/Major Seventh Chords are used commonly as passing chords and do not necessarily have a sad or happy sound.