Jazz Guitar Chord Theory (part 2)

Let's have a look at seventh chords, chords that contain 4 or more different notes and that are frequently used in jazz music.

In part 1 of jazz guitar chord theory we covered the construction of triads, chords that contain 3 different notes. If you are new to chord theory, I suggest you read part 1 first.

Let's get started again with the C major scale :

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

The construction of seventh chords follows the same principle as constructing triads : stacking 3rds on top of each other.
Triads were made by stacking 2 thirds on top of the root.  Seventh chords are constructed by stacking 3 thirds on top of the root.

Let's stack 3 thirds on the 1 of the C major scale :

C    E    G    B

1    3   5    7

The result is a C major 7 chord or Cmaj7.  From C to E is a major third, from E to G is a minor third and from G to B is a major third : every major 7 chord has this structure.
So the chord formula for major 7 chords is : 1 3 5 7

Let's do the same for the 2nd note of the C major scale :

D    F    A    C

1    b3   5    b7

The result is a D minor 7 chord or Dmin7.  From D to F is a minor third, from F to A is a major third and from A to C is a minor third : every minor 7 chord has this structure.
So the chord formula for minor 7 chords is : 1 b3 5 b7

Now let's skip some notes and stack 3 thirds on top of the 5th note of the C major scale :

G    B    D    F

1    3   5    b7

The result is a G dominant 7 chord or G7.  From G to B is a major third, from B to D is a minor third and from D to F is a minor third : every dominant 7 chord has this structure.
The chord formula for dominant 7 chords is : 1 3 5 b7

We'll skip some more notes and stack 3 thirds on top of the 7th note of the C major scale :

B    D     F     A

1    b3   b5    b7

The result is a B half diminished chord or Bm7b5.  From B to D is a minor third, from D to F is a minor third and from F to A is a major third : every half diminished 7 chord has this structure.
The chord formula for half diminished 7 chords is : 1 b3 b5 b7

I'll summarize and complete the other notes of the C major scale :

	Notes	Formula	Chord Name	Symbol
1	C    E    G    B	1     3     5    7	C major 7	Cmaj7
2	D    F    A    C	1  b3      5    b7	D minor 7	Dm7 or D-7 or Dmin7
3	E    G    B    D	1  b3     5    b7	E minor 7	Em7 or E-7 or Emin7
4	F    A    C    E	1     3     5    7	F major 7	Fmaj7
5	G    B    D    F	1     3     5    b7	G dominant	G7
6	A    C    E    G	1  b3     5    b7	A minor 7	Am7 or A-7 or Amin7
7	B    D    F    A	1  b3  b5    b7	B half diminished	Bm7b5 or Bmin7b5

Part 3 of guitar chord theory : chord tensions  

  Return to guitar chord theory part 1