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Whats a -maj7 chord ?


windmill

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Posted

I've been going to an ear training site and come across this chord and also a chord shown as a -6 chord.

I know a bit of theory but have never seen this type of designation for a chord, especially as they sound dissonant and unlike the usual maj7 and 6th chords.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this for me ?

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Posted

Well, the minus (-) sign stands for minor.

So a -maj7 chord is a minor triad with a major seventh as opposed to a regular m7 chord which would be a minor triad with a minor seventh.

 

The minor major 7th chord has an augmented triad, which might make it sound "dissonant", well I'd rather say it does have tension.

 

The -6 is a minor triad plus a major sixth.

 

This minor 6th chord has a tritone in it, which gives this chord it's tension or "dissonant" sound.

 

Hope this helps.:thu:

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Posted

Cmaj7 = C E G B
Cmin7 = C Eb G Bb
Cmin/maj7 = C Eb G B (think melodic minor scale)

The min/maj7 chords are not from major keys. They are from harmonic and melodic minor keys.

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Posted

 

I've been going to an ear training site and come across this chord and also a chord shown as a -6 chord.

I know a bit of theory but have never seen this type of designation for a chord, especially as they sound dissonant and unlike the usual maj7 and 6th chords.


Can anyone shed some light on this for me ?

 

 

You really should have a read through a few of the articles on harmonization of the major scale before you make too many assumptions about chords. Once you've read some articles, post your understanding of all the possible 6th and 7th chords diatonic to the major scale so we can help with any sticking points. All in all it might take you about 2 hours to work through a few articles.

 

To answer your question directly a "-6" = "minor 6th (chord)" = minor triad + major 6th = D F A + B in the key of C major = aka the 1st inversion of the VIImin7b5 chord (Bmin7b5 = B D F A)

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