Which chord is formed by a major triad and a major seventh?

Prepare for the NYSTCE Music Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Get ready to excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which chord is formed by a major triad and a major seventh?

A major triad plus a major seventh above the root forms a major seventh chord. A major triad consists of the root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. If you add the note that is a major seventh above the root, you get the chord with the notes 1, 3, 5, and the major seventh (11 semitones above the root). For example, in C major, the triad is C–E–G, and the major seventh above C is B, giving C–E–G–B, which is written as Cmaj7 (or CM7). This differs from other seventh chords: the dominant seventh uses a minor seventh above the root (C–E–G–Bb), the minor seventh uses a minor triad with a minor seventh (C–Eb–G–Bb), and the half-diminished seventh uses a diminished triad with a minor seventh (C–Eb–Gb–Bb). Only the major triad with a major seventh produces the major seventh chord.

A major triad plus a major seventh above the root forms a major seventh chord. A major triad consists of the root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. If you add the note that is a major seventh above the root, you get the chord with the notes 1, 3, 5, and the major seventh (11 semitones above the root). For example, in C major, the triad is C–E–G, and the major seventh above C is B, giving C–E–G–B, which is written as Cmaj7 (or CM7).

This differs from other seventh chords: the dominant seventh uses a minor seventh above the root (C–E–G–Bb), the minor seventh uses a minor triad with a minor seventh (C–Eb–G–Bb), and the half-diminished seventh uses a diminished triad with a minor seventh (C–Eb–Gb–Bb). Only the major triad with a major seventh produces the major seventh chord.

More practice questions