LearnMusicTheory.net Volume 4, Chapter 1: Jazz Theory Fundamentals 17 Section 4.1.6 S PELLING S EVENTH C HORDS

Sevenths A seventh interval is two notes spanning seven letter names. Major Major sevenths sevenths come from the major scale, spanning eleven half steps total. Since an octave has twelve half steps total, the best way to spell a major seventh is to think up an octave, then go down one half step.

major 7 up w w w w w & w w w = & w1 (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 7 half step down

Minor sevenths Minor sevenths come from the natural minor scale, spanning ten half steps total. The best way to spell a minor seventh is to think up an octave, then go down a whole step.

minor 7 up

bw w & bw w w bw = & bw w w1 (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 7 whole step down

Diminished Diminished sevenths are one half step smaller than minor sevenths. The sevenths best way to spell a diminished seventh is to think up an octave, then go down three half steps. Since three half steps sounds like a minor third, a shortcut when playing is to think up an octave then down a minor third. diminished 7th up

w bw ∫w w & w bw w = & w w1 (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 7 minor 3rd down

18 LearnMusicTheory.net High-Yield Music Theory, Vol. 4: Jazz Theory

Major seventh Major seventh chords combine a major triad with a major seventh. Minor- chords major seventh chords combine a minor triad with a major seventh. To spell Minor-major them, duplicate the root up an octave, then think down a half step for the seventh chords major seventh. Sometimes “maj7” is used for major seventh chords instead.

C² = & www+ & w & w Majorw triad half step down w for major seventh Minor triad C-^7 = & w + & w w & w b w b w

Major-minor Major-minor seventh chords combine a major triad with a minor seventh. seventh chords Minor seventh chords combine a minor triad with a minor seventh. Minor seventh chords C7 = ww+ bw & w & bw & w Majorw triad whole step down w for minor seventh Minor triad C-Þ & w + & w bw = & bw b w b w

Half-diminished Half-diminished seventh chords combine a diminished triad and a minor seventh chords seventh. Diminished seventh chords combine a diminished triad with a Diminished diminished seventh (which sounds like a major sixth, C-A in the example). seventh chords whole step down Diminished triad for minor seventh C-Þb5 w + w bw = bw & bbw & & bb w w Cºw & bw + & w ∫w = & bww Diminishedb w triad three half steps down b w for diminished seventh