Unlock Musical Depth with Seventh Guitar Chords

If you’ve ever noticed a certain richness or sophistication in some of your favorite songs, the secret might just lie in seventh chords. For many guitarists, seventh chords are the key to adding flavor and complexity to their playing, elevating simple progressions into something truly special.

In this guide, we will:

Explain the fundamentals of seventh chords.
Detail the different types of seventh chords and their unique qualities.
Provide audio examples to hear the nuances of each chord type.
Show you practical ways to play seventh chords on your guitar.

Whether you are an experienced musician seeking to enrich your harmonic palette or a beginner eager to understand the magic behind more complex sounds, you’ve come to the right place to explore the world of Seventh Guitar Chords.

Revisiting Chord Basics

If you’re completely new to chord construction, it might be helpful to first familiarize yourself with triad chords. However, for those with some chord knowledge, let’s do a quick review:

A triad is formed when three notes are harmonized together.
Triads are built using notes from a diatonic scale, such as the major scale.
For example, taking the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes from the C major scale (C, E, G) creates a C major chord.

Triads are the foundational building blocks of harmony, forming the core of countless songs across genres. They come in four primary qualities, each with a distinct sound:

Major: Built with the 1st, major 3rd, and 5th degrees of a scale (1, 3, 5).
Minor: Built with the 1st, minor 3rd, and 5th degrees of a scale (1, b3, 5).
Augmented: Built with the 1st, major 3rd, and augmented 5th degrees of a scale (1, 3, #5).
Diminished: Built with the 1st, minor 3rd, and diminished 5th degrees of a scale (1, b3, b5).

Major and minor triads are the most commonly used, with major chords sounding bright and uplifting, and minor chords conveying a more somber or melancholic feeling. But what if we want to express a wider range of emotions and harmonic colors beyond simple major and minor? This is where seventh chords come into play, adding depth and sophistication to our musical expression.

Defining Seventh Chords

Seventh chords expand on triads by adding another note: the seventh note from the scale. Therefore, a seventh chord consists of four notes: 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th.

This additional seventh note introduces a richer, more complex harmonic dimension.
Seventh chords are favored by musicians looking to add sophistication and nuance to their chord progressions and melodies.
Just like triads, seventh chords can be major, minor, or diminished, and this quality defines the specific type of seventh chord.

Exploring Types of Seventh Chords

There are five main types of seventh chords, with the first three being the most frequently used in popular music.

Major Seventh (maj7): 1, 3, 5, 7 (major seventh interval from the root)
Dominant Seventh (7): 1, 3, 5, b7 (minor seventh interval from the root)
Minor Seventh (m7): 1, b3, 5, b7 (minor seventh interval from the root)
Half-Diminished Seventh (m7b5): 1, b3, b5, b7 (minor seventh interval from the root)
Diminished Seventh (°7): 1, b3, b5, bb7 (diminished seventh interval from the root, enharmonically a major sixth)

Here’s a table illustrating the notes that compose each type of C seventh chord:

If you’re new to playing seventh chords on guitar, don’t worry! We’ll cover practical shapes and techniques in the following sections.

The Sound of Seventh Chords

Each type of seventh chord possesses a unique sonic “color” and evokes different emotions. From the warm and jazzy major seventh to the tense and dramatic diminished seventh, these chords are powerful tools for musical storytelling.

Here’s a guide to the moods and emotions often associated with each seventh chord type:

Major Seventh Chords (maj7)

Major seventh chords are known for their sophisticated, smooth, and often described as “dreamy” sound.

A maj7 chord is built by adding a major seventh interval to a major triad.
They are commonly found in jazz, bossa nova, and pop music, lending an air of elegance and refinement to chord progressions.

Dominant Seventh Chords (7)

Dominant seventh chords have a bluesy, strong, and slightly unresolved quality.

They consist of a major triad with a minor seventh interval.
Dominant sevenths are essential in blues, rock and roll, funk, and are crucial for creating harmonic tension in dominant chord progressions, leading back to the tonic.

Minor Seventh Chords (m7)

Minor seventh chords offer a mellow, reflective, and soulful vibe.

A m7 chord is created by adding a minor seventh interval to a minor triad.
Frequently used in R&B, funk, soul, and ballads, they evoke introspection, coolness, and smooth grooves.

Minor Seven Flat Five Chords (m7♭5 or Half-Diminished)

These chords bring a sense of tension, instability, and intrigue.

Formed by a diminished triad with a minor seventh interval.
Often employed in jazz as transitional chords, creating movement and harmonic interest.

Diminished Seventh Chords (dim7)

Diminished seventh chords have an eerie, suspenseful, and highly dissonant quality.

They are made up of a diminished triad with a diminished seventh interval.
Commonly used in classical music, film scores (especially horror and suspense), and jazz to create drama, tension, and a sense of unease.

In the next section, we’ll explore the diverse musical landscapes where seventh chords shine, from jazz ensembles to popular chart-topping hits.

Where to Hear Seventh Chords in Music

Seventh chords are incredibly versatile and appear across a wide spectrum of musical genres. Whether you’re listening to jazz improvisation, blues guitar riffs, or contemporary pop songs, you’re likely hearing seventh chords shaping the harmonic landscape.

Jazz, Neo-Soul, and Lofi Hip Hop

The relaxed, sophisticated, and “chill” atmosphere characteristic of these genres is significantly influenced by seventh chords.

Seventh chords are fundamental to jazz harmony, forming the backbone of countless jazz standards and improvisations.
They create the rich, complex, and nuanced soundscapes that are central to the vibe of neo-soul and lofi hip hop.

Explore resources on neo-soul chord progressions to delve deeper into this style.

Blues and Rock’n’Roll

Classic rock’n’roll and blues music heavily rely on dominant seventh chords in particular.

From slow blues ballads to energetic rock shuffles, dominant seventh chords are essential for creating the characteristic sound of these genres.
Guitar legends like Chuck Berry and B.B. King used dominant seventh riffs to energize audiences and define the sound of early rock and blues.

Soulful R&B

In the realm of R&B, minor seventh chords establish a cool, smooth, and soulful mood.

They create a sophisticated and emotionally resonant atmosphere, ideal for love songs and heartfelt ballads.
Artists such as Marvin Gaye and Alicia Keys masterfully utilize minor seventh chords to evoke feeling and set the perfect tone.

To further your exploration, check out articles on R&B guitar techniques.

Learning to Play Seventh Chords on Guitar

Enough theory – let’s get practical and learn some essential seventh chord shapes on the guitar!

A String Root Seventh Chords

Using the A string as the root provides a balanced and versatile voicing for seventh chords, sitting comfortably in the mix without overpowering other instruments, especially the bass.

E String Root Seventh Chords

Rooting seventh chords on the E string delivers a fuller, “beefier” tone, which can be particularly effective when playing solo guitar or in sparser arrangements.

D String Root Seventh Chords

Seventh chord shapes rooted on the D string often produce a brighter, more articulate sound. These voicings are well-suited for genres like snappy funk and rhythm guitar parts where clarity and definition are desired.

Ultimately, the choice of which seventh chord shape to use depends on the musical context and your desired sound. These are just starting points to guide your exploration.

Mastering these seventh chord shapes will take time and dedicated practice. However, the effort will be rewarded by a significant expansion of your musical vocabulary and creative possibilities on the guitar.

Let’s listen to some examples of seventh chords in popular songs to inspire your practice and musical journey.

Seventh Chords in Musical Context: Song Examples

Let’s examine a few well-known songs that prominently feature seventh chords, progressing in complexity to showcase their diverse applications.

Whether your musical taste leans towards jazz, rock, funk, or pop, you’ll discover seventh chords adding depth and character to countless timeless tracks. We encourage you to find the guitar tabs or chord charts for these songs and try playing them yourself!

Beginner Example: House of the Rising Sun – The Animals

This iconic folk-rock song possesses a haunting and bluesy atmosphere, demonstrating how even a single dominant seventh chord can inject significant character into a chord progression.

The song features a minor chord progression with a strategically placed dominant seventh chord to create harmonic tension and release.
Written in a 6/8 time signature with arpeggiated chords, it provides a rich and flowing texture.
House of the Rising Sun is an excellent song for guitarists to practice, especially for beginners familiar with open chords.

Intermediate Example: Summertime – Ella Fitzgerald

This jazz standard, originally composed by George Gershwin, is saturated with seventh chords of almost every quality.

In Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition, the arrangement is beautifully sparse, allowing her vocal melodies to outline the rich chord changes, creating a dreamy and melancholic mood.
Summertime has been covered countless times and remains a cornerstone of the jazz repertoire, highlighting the enduring appeal of its sophisticated harmony.

Advanced Example: Superstition – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is a master of harmony, and Superstition is a prime example of his genius.

This funk classic is driven by a powerful and infectious groove built upon dominant seventh chords.
Superstition perfectly illustrates how dominant seventh chords can elevate funk music, creating both harmonic interest and danceable energy.
The song also features tasteful #9 and #11 chord extensions for those interested in exploring even richer harmonic territories.

Expert Example: Kind of Blue – Miles Davis

For the ultimate harmonic challenge and inspiration, look no further than Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue.

This entire album is a jazz masterpiece, exploring various combinations of seventh chords, subtle key changes, and modal improvisation.
Kind of Blue offers an endless depth of musical information to uncover, providing a rich learning experience for any serious musician interested in advanced harmony and improvisation.

Conclusion

We’ve reached the end of our exploration into the captivating world of seventh chords. Let’s recap the key takeaways:

Seventh chords are four-note chords consisting of the Root, 3rd, 5th, and the essential 7th degree of a scale.
There are five primary types of seventh chords: major 7th (maj7), minor 7th (m7), dominant 7th (dom7), minor 7 flat 5 (m7b5), and diminished 7th (dim7).
These chords are expressive tools that can convey a wide range of emotions, from bright and dreamy to dark and moody, enriching your musical storytelling.
Seventh chords are integral to numerous genres, making them essential knowledge for any guitarist seeking harmonic versatility and depth.

Now that you have a solid understanding of seventh chords, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice! Experiment with these chords in your playing, songwriting, and improvisations. Seventh chords are versatile and rewarding companions that will add richness and flavor to every note you play.

Author: Richard Spooner

Richard Spooner is a writer and musician originally from the UK. After graduating from the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) in London with a degree in contemporary guitar, he embarked on a performing career, touring the UK with diverse musical acts spanning acoustic to metal genres.

Richard’s extensive experience as a gigging musician, music student, guitar store professional, and rehearsal studio manager provides him with unique insights into the world of guitar and the realities of being a working musician. Since 2019, he has been traveling and working as an editor for Pickup Music, while also contributing to publications such as Total Guitar, Killer Guitar Rigs, and Guitar Pro. After a decade dedicated to performance, Richard now focuses on songwriting, guitar journalism, and enjoying the coastal scenery.

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