4.1.6 Spelling Seventh Chords

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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 .

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Common Jazz Chord Symbols Here I Use the More Explicit Abbreviation 'Maj7' for Major Seventh
Common jazz chord symbols Here I use the more explicit abbreviation 'maj7' for major seventh. Other common abbreviations include: C² C²7 CMA7 and CM7. Here I use the abbreviation 'm7' for minor seventh. Other common abbreviations include: C- C-7 Cmi7 and Cmin7. The variations given for Major 6th, Major 7th, Dominant 7th, basic altered dominant and minor 7th chords in the first five systems are essentially interchangeable, in other words, the 'color tones' shown added to these chords (9 and 13 on major and dominant seventh chords, 9, 13 and 11 on minor seventh chords) are commonly added even when not included in a chord symbol. For example, a chord notated Cmaj7 is often played with an added 6th and/or 9th, etc. Note that the 11th is not one of the basic color tones added to major and dominant 7th chords. Only #11 is added to these chords, which implies a different scale (lydian rather than major on maj7, lydian dominant rather than the 'seventh scale' on dominant 7th chords.) Although color tones above the seventh are sometimes added to the m7b5 chord, this chord is shown here without color tones, as it is often played without them, especially when a more basic approach is being taken to the minor ii-V-I. Note that the abbreviations Cmaj9, Cmaj13, C9, C13, Cm9 and Cm13 imply that the seventh is included. Major triad Major 6th chords C C6 C% w ww & w w w Major 7th chords (basic structure: root, 3rd, 5th and 7th of root's major scale) 4 CŒ„Š7 CŒ„Š9 CŒ„Š13 w w w w & w w w Dominant seventh chords (basic structure: root, 3rd, 5th and b7 of root's major scale) 7 C7 C9 C13 w bw bw bw & w w w basic altered dominant 7th chords 10 C7(b9) C7(#5) (aka C7+5 or C+7) C7[äÁ] bbw bw b bw & w # w # w Minor 7 flat 5, aka 'half diminished' fully diminished Minor seventh chords (root, b3, b5, b7).
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