When it comes to jazz chord progressions, there are 5 key types of 7^th chord that you should learn. The vast majority of varying chords you will encounter in jazz will turn out to be one among these 5 types of chords.

When it comes to jazz chord progressions, there are 5 key types of 7^th chord that you should learn. Learning the chords and understand their functions within harmony is quite crucial when learning jazz piano. The vast majority of varying chords you will encounter in jazz will turn out to be one among these 5 types of chords.

1. Major 7^th chord

This chord is built by playing the 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, as well as 7^th notes on the major scale. The relationship of interval is major 3^rd, perfect 5^th, and major 7^th in the C key, C is the chord’s root, E is the major 3^rd, G is the 5^th, and B is the 7^th. Also, you can get a 7^th chord built from a major triad with a major 3^rd stacked on top.

2. Dominant 7^th chord

You build dominant 7^th chords by playing the 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, and flat 7^th on your major scale. A fast means of building dominant chords is by playing the major chord and then lowering the 7^th note by half one step. Also, you can build a dominant 7^th chord from your major triad with a minor 3^rd stacked on top. The relationship of interval of dominant chords is root, major 3^rd, perfect 5^th, and minor 7^th. It is crucial to note the tritone interval presence in the chord. It’s what gives it its tense and unstable harmonic quality and what makes it one of the most crucial jazz chord progressions lessons to learn.

3. Minor 7^th chord

You build the minor 7^th chord in a similar manner to the major 7^th except that you utilize the 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th from the conventional minor scale. The relationship of interval is root, minor 3^rd, perfect 5^th, and minor 7^th. To discover the conventional minor scale, you just take the major scale and have it lowered to the 3^rd, 6^th, and 7^th notes. Also, the minor 7^th chord can be built by playing the major 7^th and then getting the 3^rd and 7^th notes lowered by half a step. Alternatively, you could play the dominant chord and then lower the 3^rd by a half step.

4. Minor 7 b5 chord

You can build the minor 7 flat 5 chord by using the 1, b3, b5, and b7 on the major scale. A simpler means of building a half-diminished chord is playing the minor chord’s key and flattening the 5. Also, the minor 7^th chord can be built from a diminished triad with a major 3^rd stacked on top. The relationship of interval in half diminished chords is root, minor 3^rd, diminished 5^th, and minor 7^th.

5. Diminished 7^th chord

Diminished 7^th chords sound the strangest among all of these listed chords. The chord is 3 stacked minor 3^rds thus the relationship of interval is root, minor 3^rd, minor, 3^rd, minor 3^rd, and diminished 7^th.

When it comes to jazz chord progressions, these are the 5 key 7^th chords you will encounter the most when learning jazz piano. Knowing them makes it much easier for you and it makes your learning much faster. So, why don’t you learn all of them quite well?