Guitar Chords - Seventh Chords

Seventh chords are made by adding the 7th or flat 7th note of a scale to a major or minor chord. In order to get a better understanding of how the notes of a scale are used to build seventh chords, the key of C will be used as an example.

The Notes of the C Major Scale

C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The C Major Scale has no sharp or flat notes in its scale. A scale contains all the notes needed to make chords for that key. The 8th note is the octave note of the scale

Dominant Seventh Chords

Examples of Dominant Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) string.

Click on a chord to view more of its Dominant Seventh Chord forms

C Dominant 7th Chord Diagram D Dominant 7th Chord Diagram E Dominant 7th Chord Diagram F Dominant 7th Chord Diagram G Dominant 7th Chord Diagram A Dominant 7th Chord Diagram B Dominant 7th Chord Diagram

Dominant Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one full step down from the root note of a major chord.

C E G + Bb
1 3 5 + 7b

C D E F G A Bb C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7b 8

Dominant Seventh Chords are popular in blues music because of their naturally bluesy sound.

Major Seventh Chords

Examples of Major Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) string.

Click on a chord to view more of its Major Seventh Chord forms

C Major 7th Chord Diagram D Major 7th Chord Diagram E Major 7th Chord Diagram F Major 7th Chord Diagram G Major 7th Chord Diagram A Major 7th Chord Diagram B Major 7th Chord Diagram

Major Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one half step down from the root note of a major chord.

C E G + B
1 3 5 + 7

C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Major Seventh Chords have a more romantic sound compared to Dominant Seventh Chords.

Minor Seventh Chords

Examples of Minor Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) string.

Click on a chord to view more of its Minor Seventh Chord forms

C Minor 7th Chord Diagram D Minor 7th Chord Diagram E Minor 7th Chord Diagram F Minor 7th Chord Diagram G Minor 7th Chord Diagram A Minor 7th Chord Diagram B Minor 7th Chord Diagram

Minor Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one full step down from the root note of a minor chord.

C Eb G + Bb
1 3b 5 + 7b

C D Eb F G A Bb C
1 2 3b 4 5 6 7b 8

As most minor chords, Minor Seventh Chords have a sad sound.

Minor/Major Seventh Chords

Examples of Minor/Major Seventh chords with the roots on the Low E (6th) string.

Click on a chord to view more of its Minor/Major Seventh Chord forms

C Minor/Major 7th Chord Diagram D Minor/Major 7th Chord Diagram E Minor/Major 7th Chord Diagram F Minor/Major 7th Chord Diagram G Minor/Major 7th Chord Diagram A Minor/Major 7th Chord Diagram B Minor/Major 7th Chord Diagram

Minor/Major Seventh Chords are made by adding the note one half step down from the root note of a minor chord.

C Eb G + B
1 3b 5 + 7

C D Eb F G A B C
1 2 3b 4 5 6 7 8

Minor/Major Seventh Chords are used commonly as passing chords and do not necessarily have a sad or happy sound.

More Guitar Chords

Guitar Chord Charts by Root Note: C | D | E | F | G | A | B

Triads | Power Chords | Barre Chords | Open Chords | Seventh Chords

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