Definition

Noun: A seventh chord is a musical chord consisting of a triad (a root note, a third, and a perfect fifth) with an additional interval of a seventh above the root note. This structure creates a richer, more complex, and often dissonant sound compared to a basic triad.

Usage

The term "seventh chord" is used to describe a specific harmonic structure in music theory and practice. It is a fundamental building block in many genres, especially jazz, blues, and classical music. - The progression from a dominant seventh chord to the tonic is a cornerstone of Western harmony. - She practiced voicing the major seventh chord in different inversions on the piano.

Advanced Usage

• Chord Symbol Notation: In jazz and popular music, seventh chords are indicated by chord symbols. For example, a "C major seventh" chord is written as , and a "C dominant seventh" chord is written as .
• Functional Harmony: The specific type of seventh chord (e.g., dominant seventh, major seventh, minor seventh) determines its functional role within a key, such as creating tension that resolves to a more stable chord.

Variants and Related Words

• Dominant seventh chord: The most common type, built on the fifth degree (dominant) of a scale (e.g., G7 in the key of C major).
• Major seventh chord: A chord containing a major triad and a major seventh interval (e.g., Cmaj7).
• Minor seventh chord: A chord containing a minor triad and a minor seventh interval (e.g., Cmin7 or Cm7).
• Half-diminished seventh chord: A chord containing a diminished triad and a minor seventh interval (e.g., Cm7♭5).
• Fully-diminished seventh chord: A chord containing a diminished triad and a diminished seventh interval (e.g., C°7).

Synonyms

• Tetrad (in a general musical context, referring to any four-note chord).
• Four-note chord.

Related Phrases

• "Resolve the seventh": A common instruction meaning the seventh note of the chord should typically move down by step to resolve harmonic tension.
• "Drop the seventh": An instruction to omit the seventh note from the chord voicing.

Noun

1. a triad with a seventh added