Unlock new harmonic possibilities with seventh chords. These sophisticated chords, built by adding a seventh interval above a basic triad, enrich your music with depth and complexity, moving beyond simple harmonies.
Though frequently heard in jazz, seventh chords and extended harmonies appear in diverse musical styles, spanning rock, blues, classical, and contemporary genres. They contribute a sense of tension, warmth, and emotional resonance.
A strong understanding of music theory, especially how extended chords are constructed, is essential for significantly improving your chord progressions. This article provides a step-by-step guide to building all seventh chords in A major, clarifies their harmonic roles, and has a look at their application in well-known songs.
By the end, you'll be ready to use these chords intentionally to add harmonic depth to your music, whether improvising, composing, or deepening your theoretical knowledge.
The notes of A major and their corresponding scale degrees and chord qualities are:
Understanding how chords are built is fundamental to music theory. Each note within a key relates to a specific scale degree, and these degrees form the basis of chord construction.
Chords are created by stacking intervals of major and minor thirds. A thorough understanding of these intervals and how their combinations create different chord qualities is essential, particularly when exploring seventh chords.
Here's a breakdown of the intervals used in building chords:
Altering any of these intervals by a half step typically introduces notes outside the diatonic scale of A major.
Simply, seventh chords are constructed by adding a seventh to a triad. The specific type of seventh chord depends on the combination of the triad type (major, minor, diminished, or augmented) and the type of seventh interval (major, minor, or diminished).
The diatonic seventh chords in A major are: Amaj7, Bm7, C#m7, Dmaj7, E7, F#m7, G#m7b5 (half-diminished).
Each seventh chord type has a unique sound and harmonic function. We'll begin by exploring the diatonic seventh chords within A major in detail. Following that, we'll examine the general characteristics and uses of each seventh chord type.
For a deeper dive into Chords in A Major, take a look at the article “Chords in A Major: A Comprehensive Guide,” where we go in-depth on the topic.
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As the tonic, Amaj7 often anchors musical phrases. It provides a strong sense of arrival and closure, acting as the harmonic home. However, its role isn't limited to resolution; the Amaj7 can also serve as a point of departure, creating a gentle sense of anticipation and expectation as it alternates with other chords (as in the beginning of the chorus to “Time” by Pink Floyd), initiating a harmonic journey away from the tonal center before returning.
While other chords in the key may introduce tension or instability, the Amaj7 acts as a stable harmonic anchor, crucial for establishing the key's identity. It provides a sense of grounding, offering both resolution and emotional depth, contributing to a feeling of comfort and finality.
The added major seventh enhances the basic A major triad with a layer of sophistication and complexity. This interval doesn't create significant tension or dissonance; instead, it enriches the chord's color, adding a subtle warmth and resonance that deepens the emotional impact of the tonic.
Inversions of the Amaj7 chord can introduce a momentary sense of instability. This quality is particularly useful when you wish to avoid a definitive resolution, allowing for more nuanced harmonic movement and preventing an overly predictable sense of closure.
The Bm7 chord, as the supertonic seventh in A major, plays a crucial role in creating harmonic interest and movement. Its presence adds a distinct color to the overall harmonic landscape. It's rarely used as a final point of arrival, as its inherent quality creates a sense of forward motion.
The minor quality of the Bm7, combined with the added seventh, provides a richer contrast to the major tonality of A major, deepening the emotional resonance. This subtle shift in mood enhances the music's emotional depth, offering a moment of reflection before returning to the brighter, more stable chord - such as the tonic.
The supertonic function is often to create a sense of harmonic motion and anticipation. It can lead naturally to the dominant, setting up a strong resolution back to the tonic. This ii-V-I progression is a classic example, particularly common in jazz, where the Bm7 contributes to a smooth and jazzy harmonic flow.
The C#m7 adds a distinct, introspective color to the harmonic color palette of A major. Its presence creates a subtle shift in mood within a chord progression.
Sharing two common tones with the tonic (Amaj7), the C#m7 can function as a temporary tonic substitute, suggesting a momentary sense of stability without providing a definitive resolution. This connection to the tonic allows the mediant to prolong the characteristics of the A major key while adding harmonic movement without fundamentally altering the established tonality.
While it can serve as a temporary point of arrival within a progression, the C#m7's primary role is to add color and harmonic interest, enriching the overall flow and emotional depth of the music. It often acts as a connecting chord, smoothly transitioning between other diatonic chords, such as the subdominant or the submediant, creating interesting harmonic pathways.
Subdominant chords, due to their inherent ability to create a harmonic departure from the key's tonal center, are versatile and contribute significantly to harmonic interest and a desire for resolution.
As a primary chord, the Dmaj7 naturally progresses towards either the tonic or the dominant – the other two primary chords in A major. The movement from the subdominant to the dominant creates a particularly strong sense of anticipation, heightening the expectation for the subsequent resolution back to the tonic. This progression (IV-V-I) is a cornerstone of tonal harmony.
As a major seventh chord, it possesses a distinct character. The added major seventh interval contributes to the chord's richer, more complex sound. This major seventh adds a touch of sophistication and warmth.
It contributes to the overall sense of harmonic movement inherent in the subdominant function, gently pulling towards the dominant or tonic.
The E7 chord, as the dominant seventh in the key of A major, plays a crucial and powerful role in Western harmony. It's not just another chord; it's the chord that creates the strongest sense of harmonic pull and anticipation.
It urges the music to resolve back to the tonic. This dominant function is essential for creating musical tension and release, shaping the harmonic narrative and providing a satisfying sense of closure.
The E7's unique character stems from its construction: it's a major triad with an added minor seventh. This specific combination of intervals creates a dissonance that naturally wants to resolve. This tension is what gives the dominant seventh its strong directional pull.
It's the only diatonic chord in a major key that naturally occurs with this specific combination of major triad and minor seventh.
The dominant seventh chord's urgency for resolution is fundamental to its function. It creates a sense of expectation, almost a musical question that the tonic provides the answer to. This pull towards the tonic is what makes the resolution so satisfying, creating a sense of arrival and completion.
The E7, therefore, is not just a chord; it's a driving force in creating musical drama and emotional impact. It's the harmonic engine that propels the music forward and ultimately guides it home.
The submediant chord is frequently the primary source of minor color in major key progressions. While the minor ii chords have a stronger pull toward either the tonic or dominant, the submediant is more harmonically flexible, offering a less directional, more nuanced emotional quality. It adds depth and richness without the same sense of urgency.
Beyond its role in adding color, the submediant often functions as a tonic substitute. This is due to the two common tones it shares with the tonic chord, similar to the mediant's function. Even in simpler rock and pop progressions that may not utilize seventh chords extensively, a seventh is often added to the submediant to enhance its harmonic interest and depth.
The submediant also plays a key role in the deceptive (or interrupted) cadence. In this common harmonic device, the dominant chord creates a strong expectation of resolving to the tonic. However, instead of the expected tonic resolution, the progression moves to the submediant, creating a harmonic surprise and a momentary delay of the anticipated closure.
The added seventh in the F#m7 further enhances its color and contributes to a subtle yearning quality. While it can provide a fleeting sense of resolution, the F#m7's primary function is to create contrast and harmonic interest, contributing to the overall flow and emotional depth of the music. Its versatility makes it a valuable tool for adding emotional depth and preventing harmonic predictability.
The G#m7b5 (G#°7), or G#, or the half-diminished seventh, presents a unique and colorful harmonic option. It's the only diatonic diminished or half-diminished chord in the key, and its presence adds a distinct, often dramatic, flavor to the harmony. It is not used often in simple pop songs, but in jazz, classical, and musical theater, where more complex harmony is used, it is a great color to add to the progression.
The half-diminished quality creates a sense of tension and instability. This inherent dissonance makes it a chord that strongly desires resolution. It typically functions as a passing chord, leading to other, more stable harmonies. Its distinctive sound can evoke feelings of mystery, suspense, or even a touch of dramatic intensity.
Furthermore, it’s often used to create interesting harmonic movements, particularly in progressions involving chromaticism or modulation.
Learn how to put all these chords together in intriguing chord progressions by reading our article “A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting Chord Progressions in A Major”.
Formula: Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 7th
Notation: maj7, M7, △7, △
Diatonic scale degree A major: Tonic (I), Submediant (IV)
Sound & Function:
The major seventh chord offers a sophisticated and nuanced sound, enriching harmonies with its unique character. Though often associated with genres like jazz, pop, and R&B, its inherent versatility makes it a valuable addition to diverse musical palettes.
Its construction is straightforward: a major triad extended by a major seventh interval. This combination results in a chord that is fundamentally grounded yet simultaneously possesses a subtle, almost wistful quality.
The major seventh, while adding a touch of harmonic depth, doesn't create significant dissonance. Instead, it contributes a layer of warmth and complexity, enriching the overall sonic tapestry.
Formula: Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Minor 7th
Notation: V7
Diatonic scale degree in A major: Dominant (V)
Sound & Function:
The dominant seventh chord is a cornerstone of harmonic tension, its resolution to the tonic chord forming the bedrock of the perfect cadence (V7-I). While the diatonic dominant seventh appears naturally only on the fifth degree of the major scale, its influence extends far beyond this single context. The dominant seventh plays a key role in the technique of secondary dominants.
Secondary dominants allow composers to temporarily emphasize any chord within a key by preceding it with its own dominant seventh (built a perfect fifth above). This creates a localized V7-I relationship, effectively "toniczing" the target chord, even if it's not the key's primary tonic.
Blues music provides another compelling example of the dominant seventh's versatility. In the blues idiom, dominant seventh chords are frequently applied to chords other than the dominant itself, notably the tonic and subdominant. This distinctive use contributes significantly to the characteristic blues sound, creating the signature tension and release that defines the genre.
Formula: Root - Minor 3rd - Perfect 5th - Minor 7th
Notation: m7, min7, -7
Diatonic Scale Degree in A major: Mediant (iii), Submediant (vi)
Sound & Function:
The minor seventh chord is known for its warm, smooth texture, often described as introspective and sometimes melancholic. This expressive nature makes it a valuable tool for conveying a range of emotions, from gentle sadness to quiet contemplation.
A frequent application of the minor seventh chord is as the ii7 in major keys, forming the basis of the classic jazz progression ii7-V7-I. This fundamental sequence is a cornerstone of jazz harmony, providing a smooth and satisfying resolution.
The minor seventh chord's mellow sound lends itself particularly well to creating a sense of gentle sadness, reflection, or subtle yearning.
Beyond its prominent role in jazz, the minor seventh chord is also commonly used on the sixth degree of the major scale, especially in pop music. In this context, it often adds a layer of sophistication and emotional depth to the harmonic texture, enriching the overall sonic landscape.
Formula: Root - Minor 3rd - Diminished 5th - Minor 7th
Notation: ø7, m7b5
Diatonic Scale Degree in A major: Leading tone (vii°)
Sound & Function:
The half-diminished seventh chord (ø7 or m7b5) has a dark, mysterious, and often evocative sound, frequently heard in jazz, blues, and funk. It enriches harmonic progressions with depth and complexity. Its inherent instability stems from the tritone between the root and the diminished fifth, creating a compelling yearning for resolution to a more stable, consonant harmony.
The interval between the root and the seventh is a minor seventh in name only; it's the distance of a major sixth. This is because the fifth is lowered by a half step (creating the diminished fifth), which increases the gap between the fifth and the seventh.
Formula: Root - Minor 3rd - Diminished 5th - Diminished 7th
Notation: °7, dim7
Scale Degree in A major: (None)
Sound & Function:
The diminished seventh chord is distinguishable for its highly tense and unstable sound, a direct result of its unique, symmetrical construction: four minor thirds stacked upon each other.
This symmetrical nature gives the diminished seventh chord a particularly interesting characteristic: a slight alteration to just one note can transform it into several different dominant seventh chords.
For instance, lowering the G# to G results in a G7 chord, and flattening B to Bb creates a Bb7 chord.
This inherent ambiguity makes the diminished seventh chord a versatile tool, particularly effective for modulation, as it enables smooth transitions between keys. It often functions as a passing chord, connecting to more stable harmonies.
Formula: Root - Minor 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 7th
Notation: mMaj7, Minmaj7, mM7
Diatonic Scale Degree in A major: (none)
Sound & Function:
The minor-major seventh chord is not diatonic to A major, making it a less common seventh chord choice. It most often appears within the context of a "line cliché".
A line cliché involves a sustained minor chord with a chromatically ascending or descending voice, typically in the bass or soprano. This chromatic movement briefly creates the distinctive sound of a minor chord with a major seventh.
Beyond standard seventh chord voicings, suspended and augmented seventh chords offer unique harmonic colors and textures, expanding the expressive possibilities and adding varying degrees of tension to musical passages.
Formula Sus4: Root - Perfect 4th - Perfect 5th - Minor 7th
Formula Sus2: Root - Major 2nd - Perfect 5th - Minor 7th
Notation: 7sus4. 7sus2
Both seventh and suspended chords possess inherent harmonic instability. Combining these qualities in a single chord intensifies this characteristic, creating a heightened sense of anticipation and forward motion.
This inherent instability makes these hybrid chords particularly effective as passing chords, adding color and dynamism to harmonic progressions. They are also well-suited for harmonizing ascending or descending bass lines, contributing to both melodic and harmonic movement.
A notable example can be found in ABBA's "Happy New Year", where an ii7sus4 chord adds a distinctive flavor to the harmonic progression.
Formula Sus4: Root - Major 3rd - Augmented 5th - Minor 7th
Notation: maj7#5, Aug+7
Constructed from an augmented triad with an added major seventh, this chord has a unique and compelling tension. When used on the dominant degree, the augmented fifth functions as a strong leading tone, resolving chromatically upwards to the major third of the tonic chord. This resolution creates a powerful sense of harmonic arrival and release.
To avoid ambiguity, the augmented major seventh chord is perhaps best notated as maj7♯5. The simpler term "augmented seventh" can be misleading, as it doesn't clarify whether the seventh itself is augmented or, as is the case here, the fifth is augmented.
Developing a strong understanding of chord qualities depends heavily on the ability to recognize intervals. Our ear training and interval study guide, featuring helpful song examples for all ascending and descending intervals, can assist you in internalizing these essential building blocks of harmony.
The use of 7th chords throughout this simple progression is what gives it its distinctive sound. They add a layer of sophistication and harmonic color that simple triads cannot offer. The combination of the warm Imaj7, the slightly melancholic ii7, and the tension-filled V7 creates a balanced harmonic movement.
This specific progression, as heard in the intro to “Mr Sandman” by The Chordettes, is a hallmark of many popular songs from the mid-20th century, particularly those with a "doo-wop" or jazz influence. It contributes significantly to the nostalgic and charming quality of this chord progression.
This verse progression to “Mr Sandman” is much more complex and harmonically adventurous than the intro. The use of secondary dominants and the augmented dominant expands the harmonic palette and creates a sense of movement and drama.
The borrowed chord (bii/V) adds a modal flavor and further enriches the harmony. The chromatic passing chords (E7) help smooth out the transitions between the more complex chords.
The overall effect is sophisticated and colorful, contributing to the unique character of the song. The combination of tension and release created by these harmonic devices is a key element of the song's charm.
This progression is a classic example of a common and effective chord progression in popular music. It's relatively simple but provides enough harmonic interest to keep the listener engaged. The use of the secondary dominant (V7/vi) adds a touch of sophistication and creates a smooth transition to the new “tonicized” F#m (vi). The return to the dominant then creates another strong pull back to the original tonic, reestablishing the key and providing a sense of closure.
This harmonic chord progression is heard in "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars The progression is both catchy and emotionally resonant, contributing to the song's popularity.
This chord progression, found in the chorus of Girls' Generation's "Genie", is notable for its deliberate avoidance of both a clear tonic and a traditionally functioning dominant chord. While choruses typically emphasize stability and a strong tonal center for memorability, this progression takes a different approach.
Each chord offers ambiguity and unresolved tension. Even the dominant chord is presented as a suspension, creating anticipation without the definitive characteristics of a dominant 7th. This clever manipulation of harmonic tension, through the use of suspensions, extensions, and a generally ambiguous tonality, gives the progression its distinctive character and contributes significantly to the song's overall appeal.
This progression exemplifies traditional functional harmony at its finest. It's a balanced sequence that creates a sense of harmonic movement and intrigue. The use of the ii7 and IV chords provides smooth transitions and harmonic variety, while the V and V7 chords create tension and release. The overall effect is warm, familiar, and comforting, perfectly suited to the nostalgic and sentimental mood of "White Christmas" by Bring Crosby.
The progression's strength lies in its simplicity and clarity. Each chord plays its role in creating a satisfying and memorable harmonic experience. It's a testament to the power of well-crafted traditional harmony.
While the chord progression in the chorus of the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" might appear simple at first glance, the substitution of the expected minor ii chord with its parallel major (and the addition of a 7th) has a profound effect.
The absence of a minor chord, which is typically a staple of four-chord progressions, contributes significantly to the song's bright and joyful character. The added 7th further enriches the harmony, providing a layer of depth and sophistication.
Beyond this harmonic interest, which includes the use of chromatic chords, the song also employs shifting time signatures, adding another dimension of complexity and preventing the relatively straightforward harmony from becoming monotonous.
This combination of harmonic and rhythmic devices contributes greatly to the song's overall appeal and memorability.
The chorus of Pink Floyd's "Time" begins with a seemingly aimless alternation between IV7 and I7, creating a sense of harmonic drift and disorientation. This initial lack of direction makes the subsequent harmonic movement all the more powerful.
The progression shifts to IV7 - iii7 - ii7 - V, a clear descending sequence that provides a strong sense of forward momentum and direction. This harmonic descent, following the initial aimlessness, creates a powerful and impactful resolution – almost.
Instead of resolving to the expected tonic chord, the progression ends on the dominant, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of tension and anticipation rather than a feeling of complete closure.
The closing bars of the chorus to ABBA's "Dancing Queen" feature a chord progression that perfectly captures the song's energy and joyful spirit. The inclusion of two secondary dominants, along with a supertonic 7th chord, adds harmonic richness and forward momentum to this already anthemic chorus.
The use of secondary dominants creates a sense of harmonic adventure, briefly suggesting other tonal centers and keeping the listener engaged with unexpected twists and turns. This avoids predictability and adds a layer of sophistication to the pop and disco sensibility.
The progression culminates in a satisfying return to the tonic through the IV, ii7, and I chord, grounding the song and providing a sense of resolution after the brief harmonic excursions. This clever interplay between harmonic movement and tonal stability is a key element of the song’s enduring appeal.
The pre-chorus of Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory" showcases a surprisingly sophisticated harmonic language for modern pop music. The use of 7th and chord extensions throughout the progression adds a layer of depth and richness, creating more nuanced and interesting harmonies that simple triads can’t provide - especially in combination with the chromatic D#m7b5.
Because this harmonically rich and complex progression appears in the pre-chorus, the subsequent chorus, with its more harmonically stable and diatonic triads, gains even greater impact. The contrast between the pre-chorus's sophisticated harmonies and the chorus's relative simplicity amplifies the sense of release and resolution when the chorus arrives.
Start your journey with seventh chords in A major by playing each one in the root position. This will establish a comfortable foundation and deepen your understanding of these four-note harmonies. Prioritize smooth transitions between chords, focusing on voice leading to create seamless connections.
To truly grasp the sonic character of each seventh chord, practice arpeggiating its notes. This technique, playing the chord tones individually, is essential for exploring the melodic possibilities within each harmony. Arpeggios are commonly used in melodies to suggest underlying chord extensions and are a hallmark of fingerstyle guitar and other plucked or picked instrumental approaches.
The following exercises will help you develop fluid chord transitions:
Regular practice of these techniques will solidify your ability to play seventh chords in A major, expanding your harmonic vocabulary and enhancing your improvisational abilities.
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