Chord type
Dominant 7th Chords on Piano
The dominant 7th chord is the most important extended chord in music, a major triad with an added minor seventh that creates tension demanding resolution. It is the engine of blues, jazz, rock, and classical harmony.
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Featured key
C Dominant 7th Chord
Notes: C - E - G - B♭
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Open the full C Dominant 7th Chord reference ›Formula: Root – Major 3rd – Perfect 5th – Minor 7th
Intervals: 4 + 3 + 3 semitones (from root)
Scale degrees: 1–3–5–♭7
Sound: Tense, bluesy, driving, wants to resolve
Symbol: Number 7 after the letter (C7, D7, G7 etc.)
Why dominant 7ths matter: The dominant 7th chord contains a tritone (between the 3rd and ♭7th) that creates instability. This tension naturally resolves down a fifth to the tonic. The V7–I resolution is the most fundamental harmonic movement in music. In blues, every chord is a dominant 7th. In jazz, dominant 7ths drive ii–V–I progressions.
Dominant 7th Chord in All 18 Keys
All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.
Select any key to see notes, inversions, fingering, and practice tips.
C Dominant 7th ChordNotes: C – E – G – B♭C♯ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – BD♭ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: D♭ – F – A♭ – C♭D Dominant 7th ChordNotes: D – F♯ – A – CD♯ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: D♯ – F♯♯ – A♯ – C♯E♭ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭E Dominant 7th ChordNotes: E – G♯ – B – DF Dominant 7th ChordNotes: F – A – C – E♭F♯ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – EG♭ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F♭G Dominant 7th ChordNotes: G – B – D – FG♯ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – F♯A♭ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: A♭ – C – E♭ – G♭A Dominant 7th ChordNotes: A – C♯ – E – GA♯ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: A♯ – C♯♯ – E♯ – G♯B♭ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: B♭ – D – F – A♭B Dominant 7th ChordNotes: B – D♯ – F♯ – AC♭ Dominant 7th ChordNotes: C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭