minor seventh chord: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist)Technical/Formal (within music contexts)
Quick answer
What does “minor seventh chord” mean?
A chord consisting of a root note, a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh interval above the root.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chord consisting of a root note, a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh interval above the root.
A staple chord in jazz, blues, and many popular music genres, often used to convey a melancholic, soulful, or sophisticated sound. It can function as a tonic in minor keys or as a subdominant or dominant substitute, creating harmonic tension that seeks resolution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling of associated terms may differ (e.g., 'colour' vs. 'color').
Connotations
None.
Frequency
Equally common in music theory and performance contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “minor seventh chord” in a Sentence
The [song/section] features a minor seventh chord on the [note/scale degree].The [composer/musician] used a minor seventh chord to [create effect].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in music theory, musicology, and composition textbooks and lectures to describe harmonic structures and analysis.
Everyday
Rarely used unless in conversations among musicians or music enthusiasts.
Technical
Central term in music theory, jazz harmony, guitar/piano pedagogy, and musical score notation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “minor seventh chord”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “minor seventh chord”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “minor seventh chord”
- Confusing it with a 'dominant seventh' chord.
- Omitting the minor third and playing a dominant seventh shape instead.
- Incorrectly calling a 'minor-major seventh chord' a 'minor seventh chord'.
- Misspelling as 'minor seventh cord'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A minor seventh chord has a minor third and a minor seventh. A dominant seventh chord has a major third and a minor seventh.
Yes, commonly as the chord built on the second (ii), third (iii), or sixth (vi) scale degree of a major key.
It is notated as 'm7', 'min7', or '-7' after the root note (e.g., Am7, Cmin7, D-7).
The interval between the third and the seventh (a tritone in some inversions) and the minor seventh interval itself create tension that seeks resolution.
A chord consisting of a root note, a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh interval above the root.
Minor seventh chord is usually technical/formal (within music contexts) in register.
Minor seventh chord: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.nə ˈsɛv.ənθ kɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.nɚ ˈsɛv.ənθ kɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'minor' (sad) feeling that lasts for 'seven' days. The 'chord' is the sound of that prolonged, slightly complex sadness.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS EMOTION (specifically, a complex or bittersweet sadness).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following intervals is NOT present in a standard minor seventh chord?