Sevenths · 10 semitones
Minor 7th
Ten semitones — bluesy and slightly tense. The minor 7th has a rich, jazzy quality and is the defining interval of the dominant 7th chord.
How to Hear It
How to Identify It
Wide and slightly unstable — a reaching, bluesy quality. Think of Somewhere (West Side Story) — the opening leap is a minor 7th. Or the Star Trek theme.
Famous Examples
- Somewhere (West Side Story) — opening leap (Some-WHERE)
- Star Trek theme — prominent minor 7th
- Dominant 7th chords — defines the chord's character
Often Confused With
All Intervals
About the Minor 7th
The Minor 7th (m7) is a dissonant interval spanning 10 semitones. Ten semitones — bluesy and slightly tense. The minor 7th has a rich, jazzy quality and is the defining interval of the dominant 7th chord.
To train your ear to identify the minor 7th reliably, practice hearing it in all three modes — ascending, descending, and harmonic. The ascending version is most commonly tested, but recognising it in all contexts is the mark of a trained ear. Use the trainer above to test yourself in a mixed set of all intervals.