A seventh [[chords|chord]] consists of four notes that are stacked in thirds, comprising a triad plus an additional note known as the **seventh**. Like the triad, the lowest three notes of the seventh chord are known as the root, third, and fifth. **Example 1.** Seventh chord construction. ![[example seventh chords construction.png]] ## Types of Seventh Chords There are five types (or qualities) of seventh chords used in the [[common practice]]: major, dominant, minor, half-diminished, and fully diminished. These are determined by the quality of the triads and sevenths they contain. As with [[triads]], the root and quality of a seventh chord can be identified using [[chord symbols]]. ### Major The **major seventh chord** consists of major triad and a major seventh. The chord symbol for a major seventh chord includes the name of the root plus the capital Greek letter delta (Δ) followed by the number 7. **Example 2.** Major seventh chord. ![[example seventh chords major.png]] ![[example seventh chords major.mp3]] ### Dominant The **dominant seventh chord** (also known as a major-minor seventh chord) consists of a major triad and a minor seventh. Its chord symbol includes the name of the root followed by the number 7. **Example 3.** Dominant seventh chord. ![[example seventh chords dominant.png]] ![[example seventh chords dominant.mp3]] ### Minor The **minor seventh chord** consists of a minor triad and minor seventh. Its chord symbol includes the name of the root followed by a lowercase m and the number 7. **Example 4.** Minor seventh chord. ![[example seventh chords minor.png]] ![[example seventh chords minor.mp3]] ### Half-diminished The **half-diminished seventh chord** consists of a diminished triad and minor seventh. Its chord symbol includes the name of the root followed by a degree symbol with a diagonal slash and the number 7. **Example 5.** Half-diminished seventh chord. ![[example seventh chords half-diminished.png]] ![[example seventh chords half-diminished.mp3]] ### Fully diminished The **fully diminished seventh chord** (or more simply, a diminished seventh chord) consists of a diminished triad and a diminished 7. Its chord symbol includes the name of the root followed by a degree symbol and the number 7. **Example 6.** Fully diminished seventh chord. ![[example seventh chords fully diminished.png]] ![[example seventh chords fully diminished.mp3]]