You’ll often find a chord that provides for unusual harmony. One such chord is the minor/Major 7. Even though it’s not as common as other extended chords, you’re still likely to find it in certain genres of music.
A minor Major 7 chord is a minor triad that also contains the Major seventh tone. The sound of this chord is an apparent contrast between the minor third and Major seventh tones which is an interval of an augmented fifth when played in root position.
It’s necessary to have an understanding of the basic chords that encompass the minor/Major 7 chord as well as other chords derived from them.
Major Chord: A major chord is a basic, fundamental triad consisting of three notes: the root, the major third, and perfect fifth.
The major third is what gives the chord its “major” quality. It creates a happy and stable sound. The major chord is represented by the symbol C (or any other note) or can also be denoted with maj.
For example, a C major chord consists of the notes C (the root), E (the major third), and G (the perfect fifth).
Minor Chord: A minor chord is also a triad, but has a different quality compared to a major chord. It consists of the root, minor third, and perfect fifth.
The minor third gives the chord its “minor” quality, which sounds more subdued, melancholic, or sad. The symbol for a minor chord usually has a lowercase m, such as Cm or Cmin.
For example, a C minor chord consists of the notes C (the root), E♭ (the minor third), and G (the perfect fifth).
Major 7th Chord: A major 7th chord is an extended chord. It adds one more note to the major triad: the major seventh. It consists of the root, the major third, the perfect fifth, and the major seventh.
It has a sophisticated and somewhat jazzy sound. The symbol for a major 7th chord is typically CM7 or Cmaj7 but can also be C △7.
For example, a Cmaj7 chord consists of the notes C (the root), E (the major third), G (the perfect fifth), and B (the major seventh).
Minor 7th Chord: A minor 7th chord adds a minor seventh to a minor triad. It consists of the root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh.
This chord has a bluesy, soulful quality. The symbol for a minor 7th chord is usually something like Cm7 or C min7.
For example, a Cm7 chord consists of the notes C (the root), E♭ (the minor third), G (the perfect fifth), and B♭ (the minor seventh).
Minor/Major 7th Chord: A minor/Major 7th chord is a chord that combines elements of both major and minor qualities. It consists of the root, minor third, perfect fifth and the Major seventh.
The use of the minor third and the Major seventh creates an interesting and somewhat exotic sound. You may see it notated as C min/Maj 7, or Cmin with a M7 (Cm △7).
For example, a Cmin/Maj7 chord consists of the notes C (the root), E flat (the minor third), G (the perfect fifth), and B (the Major seventh).
These chords are used in various styles of music, including jazz, pop, R&B, and more. They provide rich harmonic possibilities for composers and musicians. They also add depth and emotion to musical compositions and improvisations. The minor/Major 7 chord may not always fit in the harmonic structure of a piece of music, but it’s worth experimenting with to obtain an interesting sound.
Until next time, Go Play.
Greg Lee
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