• A seventh chord is the combination of a triad and an interval of a seventh.
• Five types of seventh chords are commonly used.
• A major triad and a minor seventh combine to form a dominant seventh chord.
• Dominant seventh chords are abbreviated with a simple 7.
• Let's examine a C dominant seventh chord.
• C--E--G is the major triad.
• C--Bb is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form a C dominant seventh chord: C--E--G--Bb.
• Next, let's examine an F# dominant seventh chord.
• F#--A#--C# is the major triad.
• F#--E is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form an F# dominant seventh chord: F#--A#--C#--E.
• Next, let's examine an Ab dominant seventh chord.
• Ab--C--Eb is the major triad.
• Ab--Gb is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form an Ab dominant seventh chord: Ab--C--Eb--Gb.
• A major triad and a major seventh combine to form a major seventh chord.
• Major seventh chords are abbreviated with a capital 'M' and a 7.
• Let's examine a C major seventh chord.
• C--E--G is the major triad.
• C--B is the major seventh.
• When combined, they form a C major seventh chord: C--E--G--B.
• Next, let's examine an F# major seventh chord.
• F#--A#--C# is the major triad.
• F#--E# is the major seventh.
• When combined, they form an F# major seventh chord: F#--A#--C#--E#.
• Next, let's examine an Ab major seventh chord.
• Ab--C--Eb is the major triad.
• Ab--G is the major seventh.
• When combined, they form an Ab major seventh chord: Ab--C--Eb--G.
• A minor triad and a minor seventh combine to form a minor seventh chord (m7).
• Minor seventh chords are abbreviated with a lower-case 'm' and a 7.
• Let's examine a C minor seventh chord.
• C--Eb--G is the minor triad.
• C--Bb is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form a C minor seventh chord: C--Eb--G--Bb.
• Next, let's examine an F# minor seventh chord.
• F#--A--C# is the minor triad.
• F#--E is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form an F# minor seventh chord: F#--A--C#--E.
• Next, let's examine an Ab minor seventh chord.
• Ab--Cb--Eb is the minor triad.
• Ab--Gb is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form an Ab minor seventh chord: Ab--Cb--Eb--Gb.
• A diminished triad and a minor seventh combine to form a half-diminished seventh chord.
• Half-diminished seventh chords are abbreviated with a slashed circle and a 7.
• Let's examine a C half-diminished seventh chord.
• C--Eb--Gb is the diminished triad.
• C--Bb is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form a C half-diminished seventh chord: C--Eb--Gb--Bb.
• Next, let's examine an F# half-diminished seventh chord.
• F#--A--C is the diminished triad.
• F#--E is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form an F# half-diminished seventh chord: F#--A--C--E.
• Next, let's examine an Ab half-diminished seventh chord.
• Ab--Cb--Ebb is the diminished triad.
• Ab--Gb is the minor seventh.
• When combined, they form an Ab half-diminished seventh chord: Ab--Cb--Ebb--Gb.
• Finally, a diminished triad and a diminished seventh combine to form a diminished seventh chord (or fully-diminished seventh chord).
• Diminished seventh chords are abbreviated with an open circle and a 7.
• Let's examine a C diminished seventh chord.
• C--Eb--Gb is the diminished triad.
• C--Bbb is the diminished seventh.
• When combined, they form a C diminished seventh chord: C--Eb--Gb--Bbb.
• Next, let's examine an F# diminished seventh chord.
• F#--A--C is the diminished triad.
• F#--Eb is the diminished seventh.
• When combined, they form an F# diminished seventh chord: F#--A--C--Eb.
• Next, let's examine an Ab diminished seventh chord.
• Ab--Cb--Ebb is the diminished triad.
• Ab--Gbb is the diminished seventh.
• When combined, they form an Ab diminished seventh chord: Ab--Cb--Ebb--Gbb.
• Use this chart to reference the five common types of seventh chords.