Seventh Piano Chords In It's Many Forms

Seventh piano chords are just like the triad chords PLUS the 7th note in the scale. It's used a lot in jazz, gospel and blues piano music.

Just like with the triads, seventh piano chords can have several forms:

Dominant Seventh:

Symbol: 7

The dominant seventh consist of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and lowered 7th notes in the scale.

Example: C7 = C E G Bb

Major Seventh:

Symbol: M7 or maj7

The major seventh is a major triad chord plus the unlowered 7th note.

t consist of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th notes in a scale.

Example: Cmaj7 or CM7 = C E G B

Minor Seventh:

Symbol: m7

The minor seventh chord is the minor triad chord plus the dominant 7th.

It consist of the 1st, lowered 3rd, 5th and lowered 7th notes in the scale.

Example: Cm7 = C Eb G Bb

Minor/ Major Seventh:

Symbol: m/M7 or m/maj7

Can decide between the  minor seventh and part major seventh? Then the minor/ major seventh chord may be your solution. It's part minor seventh and part major seventh.

It consist of the 1st, lowered 3rd, 5th and 7th notes in the scale.

Example: Cm/M7 or Cm/maj7 = C Eb G B

Diminished Seventh:

Symbol: dim7

Just like the name suggest, a diminished triad chord is a minor seventh chord with the last note diminished or lowered one-half step. Since the 7th note is already lower by definition, the 7th note is double lowered to become diminished (double flat, ). The 5th note is also lowered.

It consist of the 1st, lowered 3rd, lowered 5th and double-lowered 7th notes in the scale.

Example: Cdim7 = C Eb G Bbb

Diminished Minor Seventh or Minor Seventh Flat Five or Half-Diminished Seventh:

Symbol: m7b5

It's like a diminished seventh chord but the 7th note is only half-diminished, it's just lowered once not twice as is the case in a Diminished Seventh.

It consist of the 1st, lowered 3rd, lowered 5th and lowered 7th notes in the scale.

Example: Cm7b5 = C Eb Gb Bb

Dominant Seventh Flat 5:

Symbol: 7b5

Just like the name suggest, it's a dominant seventh where the 5th note is flat in the scale.

It consist of the 1st, 3rd, lowered 5th and lower 7th notes.

Example: C7#5 = C E Gb Bb

Augmented Dominant Seventh or Dominant Seventh Sharp 5:

Symbol: 7#5

Just like the name suggest, it's a dominant seventh where the 5th note is sharp in the scale.

It consist of the 1st, 3rd, raised 5th and lower 7th notes.

Example: C7#5 = C E G# Bb

Play around with all of these seventh piano chords and learn to recognize them in your favorite music.

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