| While the dominant seventh chord is typically built on the fifth (or dominant) degree of a major scale, the minor seventh chord is built on the second, third, or sixth degree. A minor seventh chord contains the same notes as an added sixth chord - for example, C-E♭-G-B♭ can function as both a C minor seventh and an E flat added sixth. Major seventh chords are usually constructed on the first or fourth degree of a scale, (in C or G major: C-E-G-B). Due to the major seventh interval between the root and seventh (C-B, an inverted minor second), this chord can sometimes sound dissonant, depending on the voicing used. For example, Bacharach and David's Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head opens with a major chord followed by a major seventh in the next measure. The major seventh is notated as maj7, M7, Δ7, or ⑦. The minor seventh is notated as m7 or -7. |
The arrangements of Richie Cole's New York Afternoon for Alto sax Note that fingering for C sharpe is left hand 3rd finger (G) and octave key depressed. |
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