8.9 Seventh chords and scale degrees
| Category: Harmony | Tags: Chords, Seventh chords, Ear training: chords |
Theory
In this chapter, you will learn which types of seventh chords are found in the major scale and in the natural, harmonic and melodic minor scale. You can practise this in the exercise. You will also learn to distinguish these seventh chords by ear.
1. Seventh chords in the major scale
Seventh chords built on the seven scale degrees in the major scale.
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Examples
Which types of seventh chords are found in the major scale?
Major scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | major seventh chord |
| II | minor seventh chord |
| III | minor seventh chord |
| IV | major seventh chord |
| V | dominant seventh chord |
| VI | minor seventh chord |
| VII | half-diminished seventh chord |
2. Seventh chords in the natural minor scale
Seventh chords built on the seven scale degrees in the natural minor scale.
Video
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Examples
Which types of seventh chords are found in the natural minor scale?
Minor scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | minor seventh chord |
| II | half-diminished seventh chord |
| III | major seventh chord |
| IV | minor seventh chord |
| V | minor seventh chord |
| VI | major seventh chord |
| VII | dominant seventh chord |
3. Seventh chords in the harmonic minor scale
Seventh chords built on the seven scale degrees in the harmonic minor scale.
Video
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Examples
Which types of seventh chords are found in the harmonic minor scale?
Harmonic minor scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | minor major seventh chord |
| II | half-diminished seventh chord |
| III | augmented seventh chord |
| IV | minor seventh chord |
| V | dominant seventh chord |
| VI | major seventh chord |
| VII | diminished seventh chord |
4. Seventh chords in the melodic minor scale
Seventh chords built on the seven scale degrees in the melodic minor scale.
Video
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Examples
Which types of seventh chords are found in the melodic minor scale?
Melodic minor scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | minor major seventh chord |
| II | minor seventh chord |
| III | augmented seventh chord |
| IV | dominant seventh chord |
| V | dominant seventh chord |
| VI | half-diminished seventh chord |
| VII | diminished seventh chord |
5. Practise
Harmony exercise 8k: practise which types of seventh chords are found on the scale degrees.
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Practise
Ear Training exercise 8h: distinguishing the difference between all seventh chords in root position by ear.
Get the full courseExample question
Which seventh chord do you hear?
Choise 1: major seventh chord
Choise 2: dominant seventh chord
Choise 3: minor major seventh chord
Choise 4: minor seventh chord
Choise 5: half-diminished seventh chord
Choise 6: diminished seventh chord
Choise 7: augmented seventh chord
Practical steps
Sing the seventh chord being played to form an idea of which seventh chord it might be. Decide which seventh chord is being played.
Answer: diminished seventh chord.
Summary
The different types of seventh chords in the scales
Major scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | major seventh chord |
| II | minor seventh chord |
| III | minor seventh chord |
| IV | major seventh chord |
| V | dominant seventh chord |
| VI | minor seventh chord |
| VII | half-diminished seventh chord |
Minor scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | minor seventh chord |
| II | half-diminished seventh chord |
| III | major seventh chord |
| IV | minor seventh chord |
| V | minor seventh chord |
| VI | major seventh chord |
| VII | dominant seventh chord |
Harmonic minor scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | minor major seventh chord |
| II | half-diminished seventh chord |
| III | augmented seventh chord |
| IV | minor seventh chord |
| V | dominant seventh chord |
| VI | major seventh chord |
| VII | diminished seventh chord |
Melodic minor scale |
|
| Degree | Seventh chord |
| I | minor major seventh chord |
| II | minor seventh chord |
| III | augmented seventh chord |
| IV | dominant seventh chord |
| V | dominant seventh chord |
| VI | half-diminished seventh chord |
| VII | diminished seventh chord |
Practise
Harmony exercise 8k: practise which types of seventh chords are found on the scale degrees.
Get the full courseEar training
Ear Training exercise 8h: distinguishing the difference between all seventh chords in root position by ear.
Get the full course