• Ask Jermaine: “What Are Minor-Major 7 Chords?”

    in Chords & Progressions,Piano

    This week’s question is about “minor-major 7” chords and comes from Amy S in Phoenix, AZ:

    “Jermaine, I’ve heard of major and minor 7 chords but I just heard someone say minor-major 7 and thought they were joking until I realized this chord really exists. Do you mind shedding some light on it?”

    My Answer:

    Amy, great question.

    Yes, there is such a thing as “minor-major 7” chords and they’re very simple to grasp.

    But in order to understand them, let’s recap how to form major 7 and minor 7 chords.

    There are a few ways to look at it but let’s take the number approach.

    For example, C major.

    The C major scale is: C D E F G A B C

    Now, we’ll number that scale from 1 to 7.

    C is 1, D is 2, E is 3, F is 4, G is 5, A is 6, B is 7.

    To form a C major 7, we literally take every other tone of this scale.

    In other words, 1 + 3 + 5 + 7.

    That’s C + E + G + B.

    To form the minor 7 chord, we simply lower the 3rd and 7th degrees a half step.

    So the formula becomes 1 + b3 + 5 + b7

    Note: When I put “b” in front of a number, that means “flat.” So “b3” literally means “flat 3” or “flatted 3” or “lowered 3.” All the same thing.

    That means you literally take the “3,” which is E, and lower it a half step to Eb. You take the 7, which is B, and do the same… lower it to Bb.

    That gives you:

    C + Eb + G + Bb

    The “minor-major 7” chord sort of combines these two chords together.

    You get the “beginning” of a minor 7 chord but the “end” of a major 7 chord.

    So the formula is: 1 + b3 + 5 + 7

    Instead of keeping it straight like the major 7 (which was 1 + 3 + 5 + 7), you lower only the 3rd tone..

    Thus, giving you: C + Eb + G + B

    And the cool part is you’re only a half step from either major 7 or minor 7.

    If you wanted to convert this minor-major 7 chord to major 7, simply raise Eb to E.

    If you wanted to convert it to minor 7, simply lower B to Bb.

    So yes, there is such a thing as a minor-major 7 chord and I hope this demystifies it for you!

    Until next time –

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    Hi, I'm Jermaine Griggs, founder of this site. We teach people how to express themselves through the language of music. Just as you talk and listen freely, music can be enjoyed and played in the same way... if you know the rules of the "language!" I started this site at 17 years old in August 2000 and more than a decade later, we've helped literally millions of musicians along the way. Enjoy!




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