Dominant Seventh Chord

The dominant seventh chord is the most harmonically active chord in Western music. Its tritone between the third and flat seventh creates strong tension that resolves naturally to the tonic.

Symbol: 7   Formula: 1-3-5-♭7   C Dominant Seventh Chord: C – E – G – A#

Harmonic character: tense

Choose a Root

Interval Formula

Degree Interval Semitones from Root Note (C Dominant Seventh Chord)
1 Root (1) 0 C
3 Major 3rd (3) 4 E
5 Perfect 5th (5) 7 G
♭7 Minor 7th (♭7) 10 A#

Related Chords

Common Progressions