Seventh (chord)

File:Minor major seventh chord on C.png

Minor major seventh chord on C. A major seventh over a minor chord.

Seventh (F), in red, of a G7 dominant seventh chord in C (<phonos file="Seventh of a dominant seventh chord in C.mid">Play</phonos>).

Third inversion G7 chord. The seventh is the bass.

In music, the seventh factor of a chord is the note or pitch seven scale degrees above the root or tonal center. When the seventh is the bass note, or lowest note, of the expressed chord, the chord is in third inversion <phonos file="Major triad on C in second inversion.mid">Play</phonos>.

Conventionally, the seventh is fourth in importance to the root, fifth, and third, with third inversion being the third strongest inversion and the seventh variably minor or major. In jazz chords and theory, the seventh is required in a seventh chord, and the fifth is often omitted in preference for it and the chord quality determining third, chord extensions, and additions.

The seventh is most commonly minor or major (in C, B♭ or B♮) or less often diminished or augmented (B=A or B♯=C).

Resolution

Dominant seventh tritone "strict resolution" (in C): a dissonance of a d5 resolves stepwise inwards to a consonance of a M3 or its inversion, a dissonance of an A4, resolves stepwise outwards to a consonance of a m6. <phonos file="Tritone resolution inward.ogg">Play inward</phonos>

In the common practice period the "strict resolution" the chord seventh is stepwise downward. For example, the seventh of the dominant seventh chord, resolving to tonic, moves downward to the third of the following chord.

See also

• Seventh chord
• Interval (music)