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Seventh – Definition
A seventh is a musical interval spanning seven letter names. The two most common forms are the minor seventh (ten semitones) and the major seventh (eleven semitones).
What is a Seventh?
Major sevenths occur naturally between the first and seventh degrees of a major scale, while minor sevenths are characteristic of dominant seventh chords and many popular scales. Both intervals play an important role in melody, harmony, and chord construction.
Because sevenths create tension, they often resolve smoothly to more stable intervals, making them essential for functional harmony.
How is a Seventh used in piano playing?
Pianists frequently add sevenths to basic triads to create richer, more expressive chord voicings. Seventh chords are widely used in pop, rock, blues, jazz, gospel, and soul music.
Learning to recognize and play sevenths helps pianists develop stronger harmony, smoother voice leading, and a more sophisticated sound.