Minor seventh chord
The minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh added. It sounds soft and smooth, and it is the usual ii, iii and vi chord of major keys. Spelled in all twelve keys, with guitar shapes and piano diagrams.
On C
- Symbol
- Cm7
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 5 ♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Also written
- Cmin7 · C-7
What it sounds like
Cm7 is C, E♭, G and B♭: a minor triad with a minor seventh added. The minor third darkens the sound, and the minor seventh adds a soft dissonance against the root. Because the seventh falls by step to the third of the next chord, the chord has a gentle forward motion and sounds smooth rather than harsh. Its tension is mild and its colour is dark and warm. The chord sounds more settled than a dominant seventh, and it often leads toward a dominant.
How it is used
In major keys the minor seventh is the usual chord on ii, iii and vi, written ii7, iii7 and vi7, and ii7 is the standard predominant. In jazz, ii7 leads to V7 and then to the tonic, so ii7, V7, Imaj7 is the core progression. Minor sevenths also appear as i7 and iv7 in minor keys. They are common in funk and soul, where a minor seventh often sits on the tonic. The chord typically moves toward the dominant.
How it is built
The minor seventh is a root with a minor third, a perfect fifth and a minor seventh, 0, 3, 7 and 10 semitones above the root. Common symbols are Cm7, Cmin7, C-7 and Cmi7. Cm7 has the same notes as E♭6, which is E♭, G, B♭ and C, so the bass decides the name. The seventh is the only note added to the minor triad, so Cm7 contains Cm. The inversions are Cm7/E♭, Cm7/G and Cm7/B♭.
How to practise it
Play Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7 as ii, V and I in C, with the seventh of Dm7, C, falling to B, the third of G7. Repeat the pattern in F major with Gm7, C7 and Fmaj7, where the seventh of Gm7, F, falls to E, the third of C7. Listen for the falling step each time.
Minor seventh chord in every key
Every chord is spelled by letter name. Click a symbol for its page, with inversions and guitar shapes.
| Chord | Notes | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Cm7 | C E♭ G B♭ | |
| C♯m7 | C♯ E G♯ B | |
| D♭m7 | D♭ F♭ A♭ C♭ | |
| Dm7 | D F A C | |
| E♭m7 | E♭ G♭ B♭ D♭ | |
| Em7 | E G B D | |
| Fm7 | F A♭ C E♭ | |
| F♯m7 | F♯ A C♯ E | |
| Gm7 | G B♭ D F | |
| G♯m7 | G♯ B D♯ F♯ | |
| A♭m7 | A♭ C♭ E♭ G♭ | |
| Am7 | A C E G | |
| B♭m7 | B♭ D♭ F A♭ | |
| Bm7 | B D F♯ A |
Further reading
- Seventh Chords and How They Resolve in Tonal HarmonyHarmony · 7 min
- Chord Symbols Explained: Major, Minor, Seventh and Slash ChordsHarmony · 8 min
- The ii V I Progression in Major, Minor and Jazz StylesHarmony · 6 min
Questions
What does the 7 add to a minor chord?
It adds a minor seventh, B♭ in Cm, ten semitones above the root. The added note turns the minor triad into a softer, more coloured chord with a mild pull downward. The chord keeps its minor third, so it stays minor, while the seventh adds smoothness and a gentle tension.
Is Cm7 the same as E♭6?
Yes, in pitch. Cm7 is C, E♭, G and B♭, and E♭6 is E♭, G, B♭ and C. The notes are the same, so the chords sound alike in a block. The name depends on the bass and the function. A writer names the chord after the note that acts as its root, which is usually the bass.
Why does the minor seventh chord resolve?
Its seventh, B♭, is a dissonance that falls by step to the third of the next chord. In a ii7 to V7 move, the seventh of Dm7, C, falls to B, the third of G7. This fall gives the progression its direction.