dominant seventh chord: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Yes, in the context of diatonic harmony. 'Dominant seventh' describes its function (built on the dominant degree), while 'major-minor seventh' describes its structure (a major triad plus a minor seventh interval).

Yes. While its name comes from its role in major and minor keys, the same chord structure (major triad + minor 7th) is used extensively in blues, jazz, and other genres without always functioning as a traditional V⁷ chord resolving to I.

Its dissonance primarily comes from the tritone interval between the third and seventh of the chord (e.g., B and F in a G7 chord). This interval is acoustically unstable and creates a strong desire to resolve inward to a more consonant interval (like a third or sixth), which typically happens when the chord moves to the tonic.

It is written as V⁷ in a major key. In a minor key, the dominant chord is usually made major (with a raised third) to preserve the leading tone, so it is also notated as V⁷, often with an accidental to indicate the raised third if the key signature doesn't show it.

A musical chord consisting of a major triad plus a minor seventh above the root, built on the fifth degree (dominant) of a diatonic scale. It creates strong tension that typically resolves to the tonic chord.

Dominant seventh chord is usually technical / academic in register.

Dominant seventh chord: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒmɪnənt ˈsɛvənθ kɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɑːmɪnənt ˈsɛvənθ kɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.