Andrew Lewis Music 133

ENTRY 10

THE 7th CHORD

IDENTIFYING FIGURED BASS NOTATION

LEAD SHEET SYMBOLS

FOR 7th CHORDS

* Other than using notes in the staff there are other ways to identify 7th chords and their inversions. This can be done by using the figured bass notation and the lead sheet symbols. Figured bass notations are placed just below the bass clef staff while lead sheet symbols are above the treble clef staff.

* Figured bass uses roman numerals followed by numbers as notations to identify the 7th chord. I am going to explain how they are arranged along with the quality and type of 7th chords they represent in the diatonic.

* A major, major first degree 7th chord of a major-scale in root position is identified by I 7/5/3, I 7/5 or 7 in the first inversion, it is I 6/5/3 or I 6/5, second inversion, I 6/4/3 or I 4/3 and third inversion it is I 6/4/2 on I 4/2

* A major, minor 5th-degree 7th chord of a major-scale in root position is identified by V7/5/3, V7/5 or V7 in the first inversion, it is V6/5/3 or V6/5, second inversion, V6/4/3 or V4/3 and the third inversion it is V6/4/2 or V4/2.

* A minor, minor 2nd-degree 7th chord of a major-scale in root position, is identified by ii7/5/3, ii7/5 or ii7 in the first inversion, it is ii6/5/3 or ii6/5, second inversion, ii6/4/3 or ii4/3 and the third inversion it is ii6/4/2 or ii4/2.

* A half-diminished 7th-degree 7th chords of a major-scale in root position is identified by 𝆩iiv7/5/3, 𝆩iiv7/5 or 𝆩iiv7 in the first inversion, it is 𝆩iiv6/5/3 or 𝆩iiv6/5, second inversion, 𝆩iiv6/4/3 or 𝆩iiv4/3 and the third inversion it is 𝆩iiv6/4/2 or 𝆩iiv4/2.

* A diminished 7th-degree 7th chords of a minor-scale in root position is identified by 𝇈iiv7/5/3, 𝇈iiv7/5 or 𝇈iiv7 in the first inversion, it is 𝇈iiv6/5/3 or 𝇈iiv6/5, second inversion, 𝇈iiv6/4/3 or 𝇈iiv4/3 and the third inversion it is 𝇈iiv6/4/2 or 𝇈iiv4/2.

* Lead sheet symbols use letter along with the number 7 to identify the 7th chord. Determining whether if these chords are major, minor, diminished or half-diminished, it will use characters like (M,m,𝇈,𝆩) before the number 7. I am going to give some examples of how they are arranged.

* A major, major 7th chord using C major 7th in root position is identified by CM7, in the first inversion, it is CM7/E, second inversion, CM7/G and third inversion it is CM7/B.

* A major, minor 7th chord using G major, minor 7th in root position is identified by G7, in the first inversion, it is G7/B, second inversion, G7/D and third inversion it is G7/F.

* A minor, minor 7th chord using D minor 7th in root position is identified by Dm7, in the first inversion, it is Dm7/F, second inversion, Dm7/A and third inversion it is Dm7/C.

* A half-diminished 7th chord using B half-diminished 7th in root position is identified by B𝆩7, in the first inversion, it is B𝆩7/D, second inversion, B𝆩7/F and third inversion it is B𝆩7/C.

* A diminished 7th chord using G diminished 7th in root position is identified by G𝇈7, in the first inversion, it is G𝇈7/B♭, second inversion, G𝇈7/D♭ and third inversion it is G𝇈7/F♭.