• In addition to diatonic triads, every major and minor scale has seven diatonic seventh chords.
• Let's examine the diatonic seventh chords of the C major scale.
• First, construct the scale.
• Next, stack three generic thirds on top of each note.
• Finally, analyze the resulting seventh chords.
• The first chord is C--E--G--B, a major triad and a major seventh. Therefore, it is a major seventh chord.
• The second chord is D--F--A--C, a minor triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a minor seventh chord.
• The third chord is E--G--B--D, a minor triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is also a minor seventh chord.
• The fourth chord is F--A--C--E, a major triad and a major seventh. Therefore, it is a major seventh chord.
• The fifth chord is G--B--D--F, a major triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a dominant seventh chord.
• The sixth chord is A--C--E--G, a minor triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a minor seventh chord.
• The seventh chord is B--D--F--A, a diminished triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a half-diminished seventh chord.
• The eighth chord is a repetition of the first (C--E--G--B), making it a major seventh chord.
• The first seventh chord of a major scale will always be a major seventh, the second and third seventh chords will always be minor sevenths, etc.
• Next, we will uncover the diatonic seventh chords of the C Natural Minor scale.
• First, construct the scale.
• Again, stack three generic thirds.
• Finally, let's analyze the resulting seventh chords.
• The first chord is C--Eb--G--Bb, a minor triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a minor seventh chord.
• The second chord is D--F--Ab--C, a diminished triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a half-diminished seventh chord.
• The third chord is Eb--G--Bb--D, a major triad and a major seventh. Therefore, it is a major seventh chord.
• The fourth chord is F--Ab--C--Eb, a minor triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is minor seventh chord.
• The fifth chord is G--Bb--D--F, a minor triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is also a minor seventh chord.
• The sixth chord is Ab--C--Eb--G, a major triad and a major seventh. Therefore, it is a major seventh chord.
• The seventh chord is Bb--D--F--Ab, a major triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a dominant seventh chord.
• The eighth chord is a repetition of the first (C--Eb--G--Bb), making it a minor seventh chord.
• Next, we will discuss the diatonic seventh chords of harmonic minor.
• To convert natural minor to harmonic minor, the seventh tone is raised a half step. Therefore, each Bb (the seventh tone of C minor) is raised to a B.
• Each chord which contained a Bb needs to be reanalyzed.
• The first chord is now C--Eb--G--B, a minor triad and an major seventh. Therefore, it is minor-major seventh chord.
• The third chord is now Eb--G--B--D, an augmented triad and an major seventh. Therefore, it is augmented-major seventh chord.
• The fifth chord is now G--B--D--F, a major triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a dominant seventh chord.
• The seventh chord is now B--D--F--Ab, a diminished triad and a diminished seventh. Therefore, it is a fully-diminished seventh chord.
• The eighth chord is a repetition of the first (C--Eb--G--Bb), making it a minor-major seventh chord.
• Finally, we will discuss the diatonic seventh chords of melodic minor.
• To convert harmonic minor to melodic minor, the sixth tone is raised a half step. Therefore, each Ab (the sixth tone of C minor) is raised to an A.
• Each chord which contained an Ab needs to be reanalyzed.
• The second chord is now D--F--A--C, a minor triad and an minor seventh. Therefore, it is a minor seventh chord.
• The fourth chord is now F--A--C--Eb, a major triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a dominant seventh chord.
• The sixth chord is now A--C--Eb--G, a diminished triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is a half-diminished seventh chord.
• The seventh chord is now B--D--F--A, a diminished triad and a minor seventh. Therefore, it is also a half-diminished seventh chord.
• Use this chart to reference the diatonic seventh chords in each scale.