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Minor

Minor seventh chords

Minor seventh chord: Root (C), Minor 3rd (Eb), Perfect 5th (G), Minor 7th (Bb). Formula: 1-b3-5-b7

In every key

The same shape, moved. The symbols below are spelled the way the app spells them, which is the spelling the chord's own scale asks for rather than whichever accidental is easier to type.

  • Cm7
  • Dbm7
  • Dm7
  • Ebm7
  • Em7
  • Fm7
  • F#m7
  • Gm7
  • Abm7
  • Am7
  • Bbm7
  • Bm7

Voicings

Written in C, because that is the key the encyclopedia authors them in; every one transposes unchanged.

Root Position

C · Eb · G · Bb

beginner

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

1st Inversion

Eb · G · Bb · C

beginner

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Drop-2

G · C · Eb · Bb

intermediate

Rootless Type A (b3-5-b7-9)

Eb · G · Bb · D

intermediate

Rootless Type B (b7-9-b3-5)

Bb · D · Eb · G

advanced

Rootless Quartal Spread (b7-b3-5-9)

Bb · Eb · G · D

advanced

Rootless minor stacked in 4ths/5ths — McCoy-style open minor color

Drop-2 1st Inversion

G · Eb · Bb · C

intermediate

LH G; RH 1-3-5 on Eb-Bb-C. Keep the b3-b7 (Eb-Bb) ringing for the minor color.

So-What Quartal Column (5-1-4-b7-b3)

G · C · F · Bb · Eb

advanced

LH G-C, RH F-Bb-Eb. The top Eb is a fourth above Bb — keep the hand open, don't collapse it to a third.

Where it turns up

The iim7 chord of a MAJOR ii-V-I (e.g. Cm7-F7-Bbmaj7) — and the tonic of a Dorian/minor vamp. The ii of a MINOR ii-V-i is the half-diminished m7b5, not a plain m7. Warm, introspective; very common in jazz ballads.

Commonly swapped with

  • Cm9
  • Ebmaj7
  • Cm11

Progressions that use it

Every one of these is written out with the hands on a keyboard and on a stave.