Seventh Chords

If you add a third to any triad, you obtain a seventh chord. This chord is called seventh chord because a seventh interval is formed in relation to the root.

Seventh chords may be built on each of the degrees of major and minor scales. Seventh chords may be identified by analyzing the triad and the seventh interval forming the chord.

The following examples show the structure and examples of the most common seventh chords:

Dominant Seventh: major triad, minor 7^th

Half Diminished Seventh: diminished triad, minor 7^th

Major Seventh: major triad, major 7^th

Minor Seventh: minor triad, minor 7^th

Diminished Seventh: diminished triad, diminished 7^th