Chords

Question 1

Dominant 7th - The Leading One (Melody/Harmony)

Answer 1

A chord build on the dominant (5th) note of a key which adds the 7th note. It is sometimes written as V7 or, in the key of C major, G7 (GBDF)

Question 2

Diminished 7th - The Scary One (Melody/Harmony)

Answer 2

A diminished 7th chord consists of four notes built one on top of the other using intervals of a minor 3rd - a minor 3rd describes two notes which are 3 semitones apart e.g. C-Eb-Gb

The interval between the lower and top notes is an interval of a diminished 7th, giving the chord its name

Question 3

Added 6th (Melody/Harmony)

Answer 3

This describes a note ‘added’ to a normal chord structure

Chord C - (C) (E) (G) then the addition of the 6th note, (A) creates the chord C6. This chord is used frequently in Jazz and popular music