Seventh Chord Symbols: maj7, m7, 7 and m7b5 on Guitar

What a seventh chord is

A seventh chord is built from a triad plus a note a third above the fifth, the seventh. It gives the chord a richer, jazzier colour. On guitar such chords often sound softer and more complex than plain major and minor.

The main seventh chord symbols

Using the note C as an example. The same chord can be written in different ways, especially in jazz:

• Cmaj7 (also CM7, CΔ): major triad and major seventh, C E G B. Sounds soft and bright.
• C7: major triad and minor seventh, C E G B♭. This is the dominant seventh, which pulls toward resolution.
• Cm7 (also Cmin7, C-7): minor triad and minor seventh, C E♭ G B♭. A calm, slightly sad sound.
• Cm7b5 (also Cø): minor triad with a diminished fifth and minor seventh, C E♭ G♭ B♭. The half-diminished chord.
• Cdim7: diminished triad and diminished seventh, all minor thirds. A tense sound.

The ii-V-I progression: listen yourself

The most common progression in jazz is called ii-V-I. In C major it is Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7. Press Play progression: the chords change and the diagrams show how to play them.

How to remember them

The symbols are easier to remember by a few simple signs:

• maj7 is bright and major; m7 is warm and minor; 7 is tense and waits for resolution.
• If only the number 7 follows the letter, it is a dominant seventh, like G7.
• If maj or a triangle sign comes before 7, it is a major seventh.
• The sign m or a minus shows a minor triad.

What to read next

Chord basics and changing without pauses: how to play guitar chords, which chords to learn first. For the jazz style see the jazz guitar page in the genres section.