What seventh chords are often used in jazz?

Major seventh chords

A major seventh chord is a chord that consists of four sounds,located on thirds, and contains an interval between extreme soundsbig seventh. It was this interval that entered the name of the chord ( seventh chord).

The names of the sounds included in the seventh chord (in any, not necessarily a large one) show the names of the intervals from the lowest sound to the one under consideration:

• Prima. This is the lowest sound, the root of the chord.
• Third. Second sound from the bottom. Between this sound and the prima is the interval “third”.
• Quint. Third sound from the bottom. From prima to this sound – the interval of “fifth”.
• Seventh. Upper sound (top of the chord). Between this sound and the base of the chord is the seventh interval.

Depending on the type of triad that is part of the chord, large seventh chords are divided into three types:

1. Grand major seventh chord
2. Major minor seventh chord
3. Large augmented seventh chord (in practice it is most often called simply augmented seventh chord)

Let’s consider each type separately.

Grand major seventh chord

In this type of seventh chords, the lower three sounds form a major triad, which is reflected in the name of the chord.

Grand major seventh chord (C ^maj7 )

Figure 1. A major triad is marked with a red bracket, a major seventh is marked with a blue bracket.

Major minor seventh chord

In this type of seventh chords, the lower three sounds form a minor triad, which is also evident from the name of the chord.

Major minor seventh chord (Сm ⁺⁷ )

Figure 2. The red bracket indicates a minor triad, the blue bracket indicates a major seventh.

Grand augmented seventh chord

In this type of seventh chords, the lower three sounds form an enlarged triad.

Grand augmented seventh chord (C ^5+/maj7 )

Figure 3. The red bracket indicates an augmented triad, the blue bracket indicates a major seventh.

Major seventh chord inversions

The inversion of a seventh chord is formed by moving the lower notes up an octave (as with any chords). The name of the transferred sound does not change, i.e. if the accept is moved up an octave, it will remain a prima (it will not be a “seventh”, although it will actually be the top of a new chord).

The seventh chord has three inversions (the names of its inversions are based on the intervals included in the inversions):

First appeal. Quintsextachord.

Denoted ( ⁶ / ₅ ). It is formed as a result of the transfer of the prima up an octave:

Figure 4. Construction of the first inversion of a major seventh chord

Look at the picture. The first measure shows a major seventh chord (drawn in gray), and the second measure shows its first inversion. The red arrow shows the shift of the prima up an octave.

Second appeal. Terzkvartakkord

Denoted ( ⁴ / ₃ ). It is formed as a result of the transfer of the prima and third by an octave up (or the third of the first inversion, which is shown in the figure):

Figure 5. Option for obtaining a terzquartaccord (2nd reversal)

The first bar shows the major seventh chord, the second bar shows its first inversion, and the third bar shows its second inversion. Sequentially transferring the lower sounds up an octave, we got the third quarter chord.

Third appeal. Second chord.

Denoted by (2). It is formed as a result of the transfer of the prima, thirds and fifths of the seventh chord up an octave. The figure shows the process of building all three inversions of the major major seventh chord C ^maj7 :

Figure 6. The process of receiving all three invocations of the seventh chord is depicted.

In the first measure, a major seventh chord is depicted, in the second – its first inversion, in the third measure – its second inversion, in the fourth – the third inversion. Sequentially transferring the lower sounds up an octave, we got all the inversions of the seventh chord.

Major seventh chords

Results

You got acquainted with several more useful seventh chords and learned how to build their inversions.