Understanding 7th Chords On The Piano

Seventh chords (or 7th chords) are some of the most beautiful chords on the piano. But there are quite a few variations of seventh chords. It can be daunting to see notations on a musical score or lead sheet. After all, what is a Cm7b5?

In this lesson, we break down the most common types of seventh chords on the piano and explain how to create them, and how to read the music notation.

We'll go through five different seventh variations. The Major 7, the dominant 7, the minor 7, the diminished 7, and the minor 7 flat 5 (or half-diminished).

After this lesson, you'll be able to play all of the 7th chords on the piano!

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Check out the timestamps to jump to the chord you want to learn:

The Major 7 - 0:30

The dominant 7 - 1:32

The minor 7 - 2:16

The diminished 7 - 2:59

The minor 7 flat 5 - 3:49

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ABOUT LISA:
Lisa Witt has been teaching piano for +20 years and in that time has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn to play the songs they love. Lisa received classical piano training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, but she has since embraced popular music and playing by ear in order to accompany herself and others. She is a songwriter and recording artist. Lisa’s contagious enthusiasm will have you excited to practice and return to the keys for your next lesson. Her teaching style focuses on you, making lessons encouraging and fun.

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Update: i bought a midi keybord a year after this comment!!Now i can learn!

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[rufrida]

I am teaching myself music theory and was stuck at categorizing the chords part so I can make nice little notes for myself. I googled a lot, and Quora showed that there are around 8400 possible chords one can play. I had almost given up on this as I just wanted to understand the basics to practice and not really willing to perform or anything. Your channel helped me a great deal to make brief notes like I wanted and I am finally able to practice on my own!! Subscribed :D

[michaeldonovan]

I'm studying all major minor 4ths 5ths 6ths 7ths so enjoying this process built into my daily regim, , I love them all equely.

Thank you, Lisa.

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Your enthusiasm and patience is a treasured gift to us aspiring players!

[mingzhang]

I finally understood the principles and a quicker way to play the chords. Thank you so much, Lisa!

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Well explained and helpful for us beginners. Thanks!

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Thank you so much for the explanations on the 7th chords. You guys make it so easy to understand.

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I'm obsessed with ur channel. Im?not a piano player but I've loved music my whole life since my brain and heart started to think and feel. Jajajajajajaajaj.

I only have a piano toy and I use it every single day and I always thought that my hands were clumsy and I was unable to play until I received this piano toy and the locked down started. Now I fell in love with piano and this channel. Thanks you for lots of lessons, information and the way u teach us. It's a lot and I'm very grateful for learning from u every single day.

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As a guitar player I find these videos so helpful! The piano is so visual and linear and makes teaching and understanding theory so much easier. Great job!!! I just wished my parents would have made me take piano lessons all those years ago...the time I could have saved!

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OHMYGOD....I’m about to cry. I’m teaching myself how to play the piano and sometimes I’m on the verge on quitting because one day I unlock something, other days I feel completely lost. One thing that’s always stomped me was whenever I read something like Fmaj7 I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE 7 MEANT! I searched on the internet and everything but everyone just goes around what it’s actually means instead of just saying what it is and why it’s there. Thank you soooo much for this