Those Dominating Dominant Sevenths
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Those Dominating Dominant Sevenths
Summary
Musicians have a deep affection for dominant sevenths. What makes them so appealing? Do they truly deserve the spotlight over other hardworking seventh chords like major and minor sevenths?
Understanding Dominant Seventh Chords
A dominant seventh chord consists of four distinct notes played simultaneously, with intervals of three, three, and four semitones separating them from the lowest to the highest note. Here’s a list of twelve dominant seventh chords:
- G, B, D, F
- G
, B#, D#, F#
- A, C, E, G
- Bb, D, F, Ab- B, D
, F#, A
- C, E, G, Bb- C
, E#, G#, B
- D, F, A, C
- Eb, G, Bb, Db- E, G
, B, D
- F, A, C, Eb- F
, A#, C#, E
These chords correspond to major and minor keys: C, C
, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, and B.
The name "dominant seventh" comes from the bottom note starting on the fifth degree of the scale, known as the dominant. The top note is positioned seven letters above the bottom note, hence "seventh." For example, G is the fifth note in C major or minor, and F is seven letters above G.
Why Musicians Love Dominant Sevenths
Dominant seventh chords are beloved for their versatility. They can be expanded into more complex chords. For instance, adding a note to G, B, D, F creates a dominant ninth chord: G, B, D, F, A. This stacking can also form eleventh and thirteenth chords, enriching the harmonic vocabulary in jazz and other styles.
Furthermore, dominant sevenths are crucial in various cadences, which are chord progressions ending a musical phrase or piece. The 5-1 progression, known as a perfect cadence, is the most common involving a dominant or dominant seventh chord. Other progressions include:
- 2-5-1
- 1-4-5-1
- 3-6-2-5-1
In these sequences, the "five" often represents a dominant chord, which can be replaced by dominant seventh, ninth, eleventh, or thirteenth chords. These chords can be altered easily by raising or lowering the fifth and/or ninth degree, adding even more flexibility.
By mastering dominant sevenths, musicians open the door to a rich world of harmonics, enhancing their creative expression.
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