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Seventh Chords

Distinguish dominant, major and minor sevenths.

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Listen, compare, then practise

Dominant seventh: 0, 4, 7, 10. Major seventh: 0, 4, 7, 11. Minor seventh: 0, 3, 7, 10. Compare the third and seventh.

A · Worked example

Minor seventh

Sounding pitches: F#4 · A4 · C#5 · E5

Listen for two landmarks: the third above the root and the seventh. These distinguish the three candidate structures.

Minor seventh: root F#4, bass F#4; sounding notes F#4, A4, C#5, E5. Semitone offsets: 0, 3, 7, 10.

B · Compare the difference

Dominant seventh

Sounding pitches: F#4 · A#4 · C#5 · E5

Dominant and major seventh share a major triad but differ at the seventh. Minor seventh also lowers the third.

Dominant seventh: root F#4, bass F#4; sounding notes F#4, A#4, C#5, E5. Semitone offsets: 0, 4, 7, 10.

For aural examples, sounding pitch names are a listening reference. Written-note exercises preserve the displayed spelling.

Check the idea: The sounding offsets in feedback identify both the third and seventh.

1 · Guided practice

Compare the lower triad first, then inspect the top interval in the feedback.

2 · Independent practice

Choose the complete seventh-chord quality as roots vary. Identify which chord member would need to change to match the other option.

3 · New-question check

Apply the third-then-seventh decision to new chords without remembering their exact register.

Each session starts with two guided questions, then your chosen practice set, followed by two new questions at a different tempo. First answers, same-question retries, and the final check have separate results.

Begin this lesson

Choose your practice

Beginner

90 quarter-note BPM · 4/4 · With guidance

Dominant seventh, Major seventh, Minor seventh

Practice this level

Developing

95 quarter-note BPM · 4/4 · Fewer hints

Dominant seventh, Major seventh, Minor seventh

Practice this level

Challenge

100 quarter-note BPM · 4/4 · Fewer hints

Dominant seventh, Major seventh, Minor seventh

Practice this level

If this feels difficult

  • The lower triad is unclear. Separate major and minor before adding a seventh. Major or Minor Triad
  • Major and dominant seventh are confused. Review the two near-octave intervals. Sevenths

Practice on paper or with a teacher

The teacher pack includes 10 fixed questions, replay controls, a student sheet, and a separate answer key. The printed key and downloaded JSON use the same questions.

Open printable teacher packDownload teacher pack JSONCustomize a practice link

Download an audio example

Original synthesized audio · A4 = 440 Hz · mono, 48 kHz WAV.

Download example WAV

Related skills

Major or Minor TriadDiminished or Augmented

Musical background

These references explain the underlying definitions. The examples and practice sequences here are generated for Earstep.