Topmusicanswers
Dominant seventh chords harmoniously resolve into a major triad via voice leading, wherein each note moves stepwise between chords. In the case of an E7 chord, the G♯ resolves up a half-step to the note A, and the D resolves a half-step down to a C♯. These are the first and third scale degrees of an A major chord.
- How do you resolve a 7th chord?
- What does a dominant 7th resolve to?
- What is the correct formula for a dominant 7th chord?
- Does the 7th always resolve down?
How do you resolve a 7th chord?
Chordal 7ths like to either resolve downward to the next tone in the key, downward chromatically, or be held as a common tone. If you want it to resolve downward to the next scale tone, to C# in this case, you could make the chords C#m(7), B9, A(M7), or F#m(7).
What does a dominant 7th resolve to?
The dominant seventh chord resolves to a major or minor chord whose root is a perfect fifth below its root.
What is the correct formula for a dominant 7th chord?
Summary
| Chord Type | Interval Structure | Chord Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Dominant 7th | Major Third, Major Third, Minor Third | 1 3 5 b7 |
| Min/Maj 7th | Minor Third, Major Third, Major Third | 1 b3 5 7 |
| Minor 7th | Minor Third, Major Third, Minor Third | 1 b3 5 b7 |
| Half-diminished | Minor Third, Minor Third, Major Third | 1 b3 b5 b7 |
Does the 7th always resolve down?
If the seventh is in the bass, it must resolve down by step, creating a first-inversion I chord. V7 to VI (or vi) will often double the 3rd in the VI (or vi) chord, just like triads (that is, V to VI or V to vi).
