Now that you’ve gotten a comprehensive look at how to form intervals, scales, and foundational chords, let’s take it a step further by expanding our chords. If you are new in this series. Check out the previous lessons.. PIANO CHORDS 1: THE FOUNDATION OF CHORDS OR PIANO CHORDS 2: DIMINISHED AND AUGMENTED CHORDS
We will be studying the below 7th chords but in this lesson, we will discuss the first four
- Major seventh chord
- Minor seventh chord
- Diminished seventh chord
- Augmented major seventh chord
- Half-Diminished seventh chord
- Dominant seventh chord
- Augmented seventh chord
- Minor-major seventh chord
Chord Type:Major seventh chord
Scale Formula:1+3+5+7
Interval Formula:major third + minor third + major third
Notes in C: C + E + G + B
C + (major third) = C + E
E + (minor third) = E + G
G + (major third) = G + B
Combine all intervals: C + E + G + B
Chord Type: Minor seventh chord
Scale Formula: 1+♭3+5+♭7
Interval Formula: minor third + major third + minor third
Notes in C: C + Eb + G + Bb
C + (minor third) = C + Eb
Eb + (major third) = Eb + G
G + (minor third) = G + Bb
Combine all intervals: C + Eb + G + Bb
If you are having issues with understanding Intervals, you can read our lessons on Intervals.. here
Chord Type: Diminished seventh chord
Scale Formula: 1+♭3+♭5+♭♭7
Interval Formula: minor third + minor third + minor third
Notes in C: C + Eb + Gb + Bbb
*Don’t let the ♭♭ (double flat) throw you off. If one ♭ means to lower by one half step, then ♭♭ must mean to lower by how many half steps? You got it, 2. (And because 2 half steps are equal to 1 whole step, you can think of this as one whole step as well). In other words, this formula could really be
1 + ♭3 + b5 + 6 (although saying “A” instead of “Bbb” would not be correct for generic
interval purposes. You can read our posts on intervals here
C + (minor third) = C + Eb
Eb + (minor third) = Eb + Gb
Gb + (minor third) = Gb + Bbb (aka – “A”)
*As funny as it sounds, my piano graphic script does not do “Bbb” so I’m forced to place “A” there. But you know the truth!!!
Combine all intervals: C + Eb + Gb + Bbb (aka – “A”)
Chord Type:Augmented major seventh chord
Scale Formula:1+3+#5+7
Interval Formula:major third + major third + minor third
Notes in C:C + E + G# + B
C + (major third) = C + E
E + (major third) = E + G#
G# + (minor third) = G# + B
Combine all intervals: C + E + G# + B
In our next lesson, we will continue on the other 7th Chords. Feel free to drop your questions…
