Demystifying 7th Chords: An Easy Guide to Understanding Them
If you have ever listened to music or played an instrument, you may have come across the term ‘7th chord’. These chords add a level of complexity and depth to music, but for the uninitiated, they can seem intimidating. Fear not, as we are here to demystify the topic and provide you with an easy guide to understanding 7th chords.
What are 7th chords?
A 7th chord is a four-note chord consisting of a root note, a third, a fifth, and a seventh. The seventh note is added to a basic triad and provides an extra layer of complexity and richness to the chord.
The different types of 7th chords
There are four main types of 7th chords – major 7th, minor 7th, dominant 7th, and half-diminished 7th.
– The major 7th chord has a major third, a perfect fifth, and a major seventh.
– The minor 7th chord has a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh.
– The dominant 7th chord has a major third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh.
– The half-diminished 7th chord has a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a minor seventh.
How to build a 7th chord?
To build a 7th chord, you need to start with a basic triad and add a seventh note to it. For example, let’s take a C major chord – C, E, G. To turn it into a C major 7th chord, we add the seventh note, which is B. The chord now becomes C, E, G, B.
Using this formula, you can build any of the four types of 7th chords.
Uses and applications of 7th chords
7th chords are extensively used in a variety of music genres, from Jazz to Blues, and from Pop to Rock. They add a layer of complexity and depth to music, allowing composers and musicians to experiment with different tonalities and moods.
Moreover, 7th chords can be used to create tension and resolution in music. For example, the dominant 7th chord often resolves to the tonic chord, providing a sense of completion and satisfying resolution.
Conclusion
7th chords may seem intimidating at first, but with a little bit of understanding and practice, they can take your musical compositions to the next level. By following the simple formula of adding a seventh note to a basic triad, you can build any of the four main types of 7th chords. Remember that 7th chords are versatile and can be used to create a sense of complexity, tension, and resolution in music. So don’t be afraid to experiment and add them to your musical compositions!
