How To Turn Triads Into Seventh Chords In Simple Steps

If you’re interested in learning how triads can be turned into seventh chords, then this lesson is for you.

One of the things that fascinates the mind of most beginners about intermediate players is their ability to play sophisticated chords like seventh and extended chords.

After mastering and playing triads for a while, the necessity for more sophisticated chords sets in and there’s this need to upgrade to seventh chords from triads.

Attention: This lesson is dedicated to beginners who are already familiar with the four known triad types — major, minor, augmented, and diminished — and their inversions in all twelve keys. If the description doesn’t fit you, you might want to check out some intermediate or advanced lessons.

In the next 10 minutes or so, I’ll be taking you by the hand and showing you step-by-step how you can turn simple triads into seventh chords.

A Short Note On Triads

A triad is a collection of three related notes (agreeable or not) which may be played or heard together.

Although you’re familiar with triads already, permit me to refresh your mind on them shortly before we proceed into our focus in this lesson: seventh chords.

Major And Minor Triads

The major triad and minor triads are products of the first, third, and fifth tones of the natural major scale and natural minor scale respectively. The first, third, and fifth tones of the C natural major scale (which are C, E, and G):

…when played/or together produces the C major triad:

…while the first, third, and fifth tones of the C natural minor scale:

…which are C, Eb, and G:

…produces the C minor triad.

Augmented And Diminished Triads

Raising the fifth tone of the major triad produces an augmented triad. When the fifth tone of the C major triad:

…which is G:

…is raised by a half-step (to G#):

This produces the C augmented triad:

Lowering the fifth tone of any given minor triad produces a diminished triad. Lowering the  fifth tone of the C minor triad:

…which is G:

…by a half-step (to Gb):

…produces the C diminished triad:

Formation Of Seventh Chords Using Triads

Let’s go ahead and explore how these “fantastic four” triads can be turned into seventh chords. We’ll be forming the following seventh chord qualities:

• The major seventh chord
• The dominant seventh chord
• The minor seventh chord
• The half-diminished seventh chord

Let’s check them out!

Major Triads To Major Seventh Chords

Using the major triad, the major seventh chord can be formed by lowering the root of the major triad by a half-step. For example, the C major triad below has a duplicate of its root on the left hand. So, the root of the C major triad (on the right hand):

…which is C:

…can be lowered by a half-step (to B):

…to form the C major seventh chord:

Lowering the root of the D major triad:

…which is D:

…by a half-step (to C#)

…produces the D major seventh chord:

Following the steps covered, the major seventh chord can be formed using any major triad.

Major Triads To Dominant Seventh Chords

Using the major triad, the dominant seventh chord can be formed by lowering the root of the major triad by a whole-step.

The root of the C major triad (on the right hand):

…which is C:

…can be lowered by a whole-step (to Bb):

…to form the C dominant seventh chord:

Lowering the root of the F major triad:

…which is F:

…by a whole-step (to Eb)

…produces the F dominant seventh chord:

Following the steps covered, the dominant seventh chord can be formed using any major triad.

Minor Triads To Minor Seventh Chords

Using the minor triad, the minor seventh chord can be formed by lowering the root of the minor triad by a whole-step.

The root of the C minor triad (on the right hand):

…which is C:

…can be lowered by a whole-step (to Bb):

…to form the C minor seventh chord:

Lowering the root of the A minor triad:

…which is A:

…by a whole-step (to G)

…produces the A minor seventh chord:

Following the steps covered, the minor seventh chord can be formed using any minor triad.

Diminished Triads To Half-Diminished Seventh Chords

Using the diminished triad, the half-diminished-seventh chord can be formed by lowering the root of the diminished triad by a whole-step.

The root of the C diminished triad (on the right hand):

…which is C:

…can be lowered by a whole-step (to Bb):

…to form the C half-diminished seventh chord:

Lowering the root of the F# diminished triad:

…which is F#:

…by a whole-step (to E)

…produces the F# half-diminished seventh chord:

Following the steps covered, the half-diminished seventh chord can be formed using any diminished triad.

Final Words

Using the procedures covered in this lesson, any major, minor, or diminished triad can be upgraded into a seventh chord just by lowering the root either by a half-step or a whole-step.

All the best!

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Chuku Onyemachi

Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group

Onyemachi "Onye" Chuku is a Nigerian musicologist, pianist, and author. Inspired by his role model (Jermaine Griggs) who has become his mentor, what he started off as teaching musicians in his Aba-Nigeria neighborhood in April 2005 eventually morphed into an international career that has helped hundreds of thousands of musicians all around the world. Onye lives in Dubai and is currently the Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group and the music consultant of the Gospel Music Training Center, all in California, USA.

Latest posts by Chuku Onyemachi (see all)

• The Formation Of Diminished Seventh Chords Used To Be Challenging Until I Did This
• How To Form Seventh Chords In Two Shakes Of A Dog’s Tail Using Third Intervals And The Circle Of Fifths Chart
• I Played The 13sus4 Chord And This Happened…
• How To Build Seventh Chords Like An Architect Using “Foundation And Structure” Concept
• This 4-Week Plan Will Help You Master All The Major Scales