Seventh Chords
One more note on top of a triad opens up an entire palette of richer, more colorful piano sounds.
From triad to seventh chord
A seventh chord stacks one more third on top of a triad's 5th, adding a note a 7th above the root — four notes instead of three. That extra note is exactly what gives piano voicings so much more color and depth than plain triads.
Five common types
| Type | Triad | 7th | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major 7th | Major | Major 7th | Smooth, dreamy |
| Minor 7th | Minor | Minor 7th | Mellow, jazzy |
| Dominant 7th | Major | Minor 7th | Bluesy, wants to resolve |
| Half-diminished 7th | Diminished | Minor 7th | Tense, minor-key ii chord |
| Diminished 7th | Diminished | Diminished 7th | Very tense, symmetrical |
Common questions
Why add a 7th to a piano triad?
It adds color, tension, and complexity beyond a plain triad — the backbone of jazz voicings and common in pop, R&B, and film scoring.
What's the difference between maj7 and dominant 7 on piano?
Both use a major triad, but maj7 adds a major 7th for a smooth sound while dominant 7 adds a minor 7th for a bluesy, unstable sound.
What is a half-diminished 7th chord?
A diminished triad plus a minor 7th (m7b5) — common as the ii chord in minor-key jazz progressions.
How do seventh chords change piano voicing choices?
With four notes, pianists often drop a note (commonly the 5th) and spread the rest across both hands.
Play every seventh chord on a live keyboard
Melody Monkey visualizes chords on piano, guitar, bass, or ukulele — in any key, instantly.
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