ANNOTATING HARMONY FOR SEVENTH CHORDS IN ROOT POSITION 

The next figure shows how to annotate harmony for seventh chords in the root position. The C major key and the A minor key are used. Thus, the assumption is that the chords in the figure are taken from passages written in these keys. The chords shown in the figure are in the root close position but the same annotations are also used for open positions. 

Figure: Annotating harmony for seventh chords in the root position

The G dominant seventh chord is annotated in the C major key as C: V7. The chord root G is the fifth scale degree of the C major key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral five. The interval between the chord root and chord third (G4 B4) is the major third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the upper case.

The C major seventh chord is annotated in the C major key as C: I∆7. The chord root C is the first scale degree of the C major key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral one. The interval between the chord root and chord third (C4 E4) is the major third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the upper case.

The A minor seventh chord is annotated in the C major key as C: vi7. The chord root A is the sixth scale degree of the C major key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral six. The interval between the chord root and chord third (A4 C5) is the minor third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the lower case.

The G# diminished seventh chord is annotated in the A minor key as a: viio7. The chord root G# is the raised seventh scale degree of the A minor key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral seven. The reason why the sharp accidental is not used to indicate that the seventh scale degree is raised, will be explained in chapter Anomaly in harmony annotation. The interval between the chord root and chord third (G#4 B4) is the minor third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the lower case.

The B half-diminished seventh chord is annotated in the C major key as C: viiØ7. The chord root B is the seventh scale degree of the C major key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral seven. The interval between the chord root and chord third (B4 D5) is the minor third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the lower case.

The G augmented seventh chord is annotated in the C major key as C: V+7. The chord root G is the fifth scale degree of the C major key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral five. The interval between the chord root and chord third (G4 B4) is the major third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the upper case.

The A minor-major seventh chord is annotated in the A minor key as a: i∆7. The chord root A is the first scale degree of the A minor key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral one. The interval between the chord root and chord third (A4 C5) is the minor third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the lower case.

The C augmented-major seventh chord is annotated in the A minor key as a: III+∆7. The chord root C is the third scale degree of the A minor key. Thus, it is annotated with the Roman numeral three. The interval between the chord root and chord third (C4 E4) is the major third. Thus, the Roman numeral is in the upper case.