A seventh chord is a triad that you add the seventh note to. A dominant seventh chord is a major triad with a minor seventh. A major seventh chord is a major triad with a major seventh. A minor seventh is a minor triad with a minor seventh. There are several others that we will not get into at this time.
When you play a dominant seventh chord before going back to the root chord, it creates tension and release sound that is very satisfying.
| Seventh Chord | Character | Intervals | Example Chord |
| Major Seventh | Happy | 1-3-5-7 | Cmaj7 – C E G B |
| Minor Seventh | Sad | 1-b3-5-b7 | Cm7 – C Eb G Bb |
| Dominant Seventh | Unstable & Tense | 1-3-5-b7 | C7 – C E G Bb |
| Minor/Major Seventh | Mysterious & Tense | 1-b3-5-7 | Cm/Maj7 – C Eb G B |
| Minor Seventh Flat 5 | Dark & Tense | 1-b3-b5-b7 | Cm7b5 – C Eb Gb Bb |
| Diminished Seventh | Dark & Tense | 1-b3-b5-*7 | Cdim7 – C Eb G A |
| Augmented Seventh | Unsettled | 1-3-#5-b7 | Caug7 – C E G# Bb |
There are several seventh chord shapes that are portable and can be played anywhere on the neck.
Portable Seventh chord with the root notes on the 5th and 2nd strings
Portable Seventh chord with the root note on the 4th string
Portable Minor Seventh chord with the root note on the 5th string
Portable Minor Seventh chord with the root notes on the 6th and 1st strings
