| Component intervals from root | |
|---|---|
| minor seventh | |
| perfect fifth | |
| minor third | |
| root | |
| Tuning | |
| 10:12:15:18 [1] | |
|
Forte no. / | |
| 4-26 / |
In music, a minor seventh chord is a seventh chord composed of a root note, a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh (1, ♭3, 5, ♭7). In other words, one could think of it as a minor triad with a minor seventh attached to it. [2]
For example, the minor seventh chord built on A, commonly written as A−7, has pitches A-C-E-G:
Minor/minor seventh chord
A seventh chord with a minor third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh is commonly called a minor seventh chord, but also sometimes a minor/minor seventh chord to distinguish it from the minor/major seventh chord discussed below. It can be represented as either as m7 or −7, or in integer notation, {0, 3, 7, 10}.
This chord occurs on different scale degrees in different diatonic scales:
- In a
major scale, it is on the
supertonic,
mediant, and
submediant degrees (
,
, and
).
[3] This is why the ii in a
ii–V–I turnaround is a minor seventh chord (ii7).
- In a
natural minor scale, it is on the
tonic,
subdominant, and
dominant degrees (
,
, and
).
[4] - In a
harmonic minor scale, it is only on the subdominant degree (
).
[4]
- In an ascending
melodic minor scale, it is only on the supertonic degree (
).
[4]
Example of tonic minor seventh chords include LaBelle's " Lady Marmalade", Roberta Flack's " Killing Me Softly with His Song", The Doobie Brothers' " Long Train Runnin'", Chic's " Le Freak", Lipps Inc.'s " Funkytown", and the Eagles' " One Of These Nights". [5]
The major sixth chord (major triad with an added major sixth) is an inversion of this chord.
Minor/major seventh chord
When the seventh note is a major seventh above the root, it is called a minor/major seventh chord. For example, the minor/major seventh chord built on C, commonly written as CmM7, has pitches C–E♭–G–B:
Its harmonic function is similar to that of a "normal" minor seventh, as is the minor seven flat five or half-diminished chord – but in each case, the altered tone (seventh or fifth, respectively) creates a different feeling which is exploited in modulations and to use leading-tones.
Minor seventh as virtual augmented sixth chord
The minor seventh chord may also have its interval of minor seventh (between root and seventh degree, i.e.: C–B♭ in C–E♭–G–B♭) rewritten as an augmented sixth C–E♭–G–A♯. [6] Rearranging and transposing, this gives A♭–C♭–E♭–F♯, a virtual minor version of the German augmented sixth chord. [7] Again like the typical augmented sixth, this enharmonic interpretation gives on a resolution irregular for the minor seventh but normal for the augmented sixth chord, where the 2 voices at the enharmonic major second converge to unison or diverge to octave. [8]
Minor seventh chord table
Chord Root Minor third Perfect fifth Minor seventh Cm7 C E♭ G B♭ C♯m7 C♯ E G♯ B D♭m7 D♭ F♭ A♭ C♭ Dm7 D F A C D♯m7 D♯ F♯ A♯ C♯ E♭m7 E♭ G♭ B♭ D♭ Em7 E G B D Fm7 F A♭ C E♭ F♯m7 F♯ A C♯ E G♭m7 G♭ B 
D♭ F♭ Gm7 G B♭ D F G♯m7 G♯ B D♯ F♯ A♭m7 A♭ C♭ E♭ G♭ Am7 A C E G A♯m7 A♯ C♯ E♯ G♯ B♭m7 B♭ D♭ F A♭ Bm7 B D F♯ A
The just minor seventh chord is tuned in the ratios 10:12:15:18. [9] ⓘ This may be found on iii, vi, and vii. [10] Another tuning may be in the ratios 48:40:32:27. [11] ⓘ
Minor seventh chords for guitar
In standard tuning, the left is the low E string, the number is the fret, and x means mute the string.
References
- ^ Shirlaw, Matthew (1900). The Theory of Harmony, p.86. ISBN 978-1-4510-1534-8.
- ^ "musictheory.net". www.musictheory.net. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Benward & Saker (2003), p.229.
- ^ a b c Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p.230. Seventh Edition. ISBN 978-0-07-294262-0.
- ^ Stephenson, Ken (2002). What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis, p.83. ISBN 978-0-300-09239-4.
- ^ Ouseley, Frederick. A. Gore (1868). A Treatise on Harmony, pg. 137, Oxford, Clarendon Press.
- ^ Ouseley, Frederick. A. Gore (1868). A Treatise on Harmony, pg. 143ff, Oxford, Clarendon Press.
- ^ Christ, William (1966). Materials and Structure of Music, v.2, p. 154. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall. LOC 66-14354.
- ^ David Wright (2009). Mathematics and Music, p.141. ISBN 978-0-8218-4873-9.
- ^ Wright, David (2009). Mathematics and Music, p.140-41. ISBN 978-0-8218-4873-9.
- ^ François-Joseph Fétis and Mary I. Arlin (1994). Esquisse de l'histoire de l'harmonie, p.97n55. ISBN 0-945193-51-3.
- ^ "Reverse Guitar Chord Name Finder With Sound, Vertical Fretboard".
- ^ "Minor 7th Chords".
- ^ "Music | audiopologie". Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
