Add one note to a triad and the harmony shifts from simple to specific. The 7th gives a chord its voice - warm and settled (maj7), smooth and cool (min7), driving and tense (dom7). These five seventh chord types form the foundation of jazz and contemporary harmony.
The Five Types
| Type | Formula | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Major 7 | 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 | Warm and lush. The definitive jazz major sound. |
| Minor 7 | 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 | Smooth and mellow. The most common minor chord in jazz. |
| Dominant 7 | 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 | Bluesy tension. Wants to resolve down a 5th. |
| Half-Diminished | 1 - b3 - b5 - b7 | Dark and restless. The ii chord in minor keys. |
| Diminished 7 | 1 - b3 - b5 - bb7 | Symmetrical and ambiguous. Built entirely from minor 3rds. |
The first four types appear naturally when you harmonize the major scale in 7ths, which is the focus of the next lesson. The diminished 7th does not occur in the major scale directly, but you will encounter it as a passing chord, a dominant substitute, and throughout minor-key harmony.
Quick Reference - One Voicing Each
Before diving into the full voicing library below, here is one shell voicing for each type rooted on C. Play through them slowly and listen to how the 3rd and 7th define each chord's character.
Shapes and Voicings
Select a root below to explore each type in detail. Shell voicings (root-3rd-7th) strip the chord to its essential identity - three notes that tell you everything about its quality. Drop 2 voicings bring the 5th back in for a fuller sound.
CΔ⁷ (C E G B)
1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - Warm and lush. The definitive jazz major sound.
Shell voicings (R-3-7)
Drop 2 voicings
Cm⁷ (C D# G A#)
1 - b3 - 5 - b7 - Smooth and mellow. The most common minor chord in jazz.
Shell voicings (R-3-7)
Drop 2 voicings
C⁷ (C E G A#)
1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - Bluesy tension. Wants to resolve down a 5th.
Shell voicings (R-3-7)
Drop 2 voicings
Cø⁷ (C D# F# A#)
1 - b3 - b5 - b7 - Dark and restless. The ii chord in minor keys.
Shell voicings (R-3-7)
Drop 2 voicings
C°7 (C D# F# A)
1 - b3 - b5 - bb7 - Symmetrical and ambiguous. Built entirely from minor 3rds.
Shell voicings (R-3-7)
Drop 2 voicings
Practical Context
The ii-V-I
The most common progression in jazz is Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7 in the key of C major. That single sequence uses three of the five types: min7, dom7, and maj7. Once you can recognize these three by ear and locate them by shape, you have the vocabulary for most jazz harmony.
Shell Voicings First
Start with the shell voicing (root-3-7) for each type before tackling full voicings. Three notes are enough to define the chord completely. The 5th is usually left out because it does not distinguish between chord qualities - major 7th and dominant 7th both have a perfect 5th. It is the 3rd and 7th that make each type sound different.
Practice with Drone
Use the drone below to hear your shell voicings against a sustained root. Pick a key, start the drone, and play each of the five seventh chord types built on that root. Pay attention to how the 3rd and 7th interact with the drone note - that interaction is what gives each chord quality its distinct sound.