Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a seventh chord?
What is a seventh chord?
What is the most common seventh chord in Western music?
What is the most common seventh chord in Western music?
How are seventh chords classified?
How are seventh chords classified?
How many types of tertian seventh chords are there?
How many types of tertian seventh chords are there?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is not a commonly found tertian seventh chord in Western music?
Which of the following is not a commonly found tertian seventh chord in Western music?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of seventh chord was the first to appear regularly in classical music?
Which type of seventh chord was the first to appear regularly in classical music?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a half-diminished seventh chord?
What is a half-diminished seventh chord?
Signup and view all the answers
How is a diminished seventh chord constructed?
How is a diminished seventh chord constructed?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Seventh Chords: Definition, Types, and Classification
- A seventh chord is a chord consisting of a triad plus a note forming an interval of a seventh above the chord's root.
- The most common seventh chord is the dominant seventh chord, composed of a major triad and a minor seventh.
- There are many types of seventh chords, and they are classified by the type of triad and type of seventh.
- Tertian seventh chords are constructed using a sequence of major and/or minor thirds, resulting in eight possible combinations.
- The five commonly found tertian seventh chords in Western music are the major seventh, minor seventh, dominant seventh, half-diminished seventh, and diminished seventh.
- Non-tertian seventh chords can also be constructed using augmented or diminished thirds, but only a few of them are used in Western music.
- The dominant seventh chord is perhaps the most important seventh chord and was the first to appear regularly in classical music.
- The harmonic seventh chord is a dominant seventh chord formed by a major triad plus a harmonic seventh interval, used in blues and barbershop harmony.
- Major seventh chords are usually constructed on the first or fourth degree of a scale and can sometimes sound dissonant.
- Minor seventh chords are built on the second, third, or sixth degree of a major scale and contain the same notes as an added sixth chord.
- A half-diminished seventh chord is built from the seventh degree of a major scale and uses a minor seventh over the root of a diminished triad.
- A diminished seventh chord is made of three superimposed minor thirds and has been used by composers and musicians for a variety of reasons over time.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of seventh chords with this informative quiz! Discover the different types and classifications of seventh chords, including the dominant seventh chord, major seventh chord, and diminished seventh chord. Learn how to construct tertian and non-tertian seventh chords and understand their significance in Western music. This quiz is perfect for musicians and music enthusiasts who want to enhance their understanding of music theory and chord progressions.