1. NCVPS AP Music Theory Created by Dr. Tom Moncrief What is a Seventh Chord?

2. Tertian Harmony Tertian Harmony is creating tonal harmony by stacking 3rds on top of each other. The Seventh Chord is a four-note chord consisting of a Root, a 3 rd, a 5 th and a 7 th. This is a Seventh chord based on the note “A”. The Root to the 3 rd is (“A” to “C#”), the 3 rd to 5 th is (“C#” to “E”), and the 5 th to 7 th is (“E” to “G”).

3. Major Seventh Chord A Major Seventh Chord consists of a Major Triad on the bottom and a Major 7 th above the Root. The Major Triad is identified by a Major 3 rd between the Root and 3 rd and a minor 3 rd between the Root and 5 th. In this Bb Major Seventh Chord, there is a Major 3 rd from Root to 3 rd (“Bb” to “D”), a minor 3 rd from 3 rd to 5 th (“D” to “F”) and a Major 3 rd from 5 th to 7 th (“F” to “A”).

4. Major-minor Seventh Chord A Major-minor Seventh Chord consists of a Major Triad on the bottom and a minor 7 th above the Root. The Major- minor Seventh Chord is commonly called the Dominant 7 th because this is the quality of 7 th chord that is built upon the dominant scale degree in a Major Key. The Major Triad is identified by a Major 3 rd between the Root and 3 rd and a minor 3 rd between the Root and 5 th.

5. Major-minor Seventh Chord This is the C Dominant 7 th chord. “C” is the Dominant in the Key of F Major, this is why this chord has a “Bb” as “Bb” is in the Key Signature of F Major. In this C Major-minor Seventh Chord, there is a Major 3 rd from Root to 3 rd (“C” to “E”), a minor 3 rd from 3 rd to 5 th (“E” to “G”) and a minor 3 rd from 5 th to 7 th (“G” to “Bb”).

6. Minor Seventh Chord A minor Seventh Chord consists of a minor Triad on the bottom and a minor 7 th above the Root. The minor triad is identified by a minor 3 rd between the Root and 3 rd and a Major 3 rd between the Root and 5 th. In this E minor Seventh Chord, there is a minor 3 rd from Root to 3 rd (“E” to “G”), a Major 3 rd from 3 rd to 5 th (“G” to “B”) and a minor 3 rd from 5 th to 7 th (“B” to “D”).

7. Half-diminished Seventh Chord A half-diminished Seventh Chord consists of a diminished triad on the bottom and a minor 7 th above the Root. The diminished triad is identified by a minor 3 rd between the Root and 3 rd and a minor 3 rd between the Root and 5 th. In this A half-diminshed Seventh Chord, there is a minor 3 rd from Root to 3 rd (“A” to “C”), a minor 3 rd from 3 rd to 5 th (“C” to “Eb”) and a Major 3 rd from 5 th to 7 th (“Eb” to “G”).

8. Fully diminished Seventh Chord A diminished Seventh Chord consists of a diminished triad on the bottom and a diminished 7 th above the Root. The diminished triad is identified by a minor 3 rd between the Root and 3 rd and a minor 3 rd between the Root and 5 th. In this D fully-diminshed Seventh Chord, there is a minor 3 rd from Root to 3 rd (“D” to “F”), a minor 3 rd from 3 rd to 5 th (“F” to “Ab”) and a minor 3 rd from 5 th to 7 th (“Ab” to “Cb”).

9. Let’s Practice! What is the Quality of this Seventh chord?

10. The Answer What is the Quality of this Seventh chord? This is a Dominant Seventh Chord (or Major-minor Seventh Chord). There is a Major triad on the bottom (E, G#, B) and a minor 7 th on top (“E” to “D” is a minor 7 th ).

11. Let’s Practice! What is the Quality of this Seventh chord?

12. The Answer What is the Quality of this Seventh chord? This is a Major Seventh Chord. The quality of the triad is Major (D, F#, A) and the quality of the 7 th is Major (“D” to “C#” is a Major 7 th ). With a Major Triad and a Major 7 th, the quality is a Major Seventh.

13. Let’s Practice! What is the Quality of this Seventh chord?

14. The Answer What is the Quality of this Seventh chord? This is a F Dominant Seventh Chord (Major-minor seventh). The triad (F, A, C) is Major and the quality of the 7 th is minor (“F” to “Eb” is a minor 7 th ). With a Major Triad on the bottom and a minor 7 th this is a Major-minor Seventh Chord.

15. Let’s Practice! What is the Quality of this Seventh chord?

16. The Answer What is the Quality of this Seventh chord? This is a minor seventh chord. The quality of the triad (B, D, F#) is minor and from the Root to the 7 th is a minor 7 th (“B” to “A”) is a minor 7 th. With a minor triad and a minor 7 th this is a minor seventh chord.

17. Let’s Practice! What is the Quality of this Seventh chord?

18. The Answer What is the Quality of this Seventh chord? This is a half-diminished 7 th chord. The quality of the triad (C, Eb, Gb) is diminished and the quality of the 7 th is minor (“C” to Bb” is a minor 7 th ). With a diminished triad and a minor 7 th, the quality is a half-diminished 7 th chord.

19. Let’s Practice! What is the Quality of this Seventh chord?

20. The Answer What is the Quality of this Seventh chord? This is a minor seventh chord. The quality of the triad is minor (Ab, Cb, Eb) and the quality of the 7 th is minor. With a minor triad and a minor 7 th, this is a minor seventh chord.

21. Let’s Practice! What is the Quality of this Seventh chord?

22. The Answer What is the Quality of this Seventh chord? This is a fully-diminished seventh chord. The quality of the triad is diminished (A, C, Eb) and the quality of the 7 th is a diminished 7 th (“A” to “Gb”). With a diminished triad and diminished 7 th, this is a diminished seventh chord.