Concept
In music, a minor seventh chord is a seventh chord composed of a root note, together with a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh (1, 3, 5, 7). For example, the minor seventh chord built on C, commonly written as C–7, has pitches C–E–G–B: { \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #1.5 } \relative c' { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f 1 } } A seventh chord with a minor third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh is commonly called a minor seventh chord, but also sometimes a minor/minor seventh chord to distinguish it from the minor/major seventh chord discussed below. It can be represented as either as m7 or −7, or in integer notation, {0, 3, 7, 10}. This chord occurs on different scale degrees in different diatonic scales: In a major scale, it is on the supertonic, mediant, and submediant degrees (, , and ). This is why the ii in a ii–V–I turnaround is a minor seventh chord (ii7). In a natural minor scale, it is on the tonic, subdominant, and dominant degrees (, , and ). In a harmonic minor scale, it is only on the subdominant degree (). In an ascending melodic minor scale, it is only on the supertonic degree (). Example of tonic minor seventh chords include LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade", Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song", The Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Runnin'", Chic's "Le Freak", Lipps Inc.'s "Funkytown", and the Eagles' "One Of These Nights". When the seventh note is a major seventh above the root, it is called a minor/major seventh chord. For example, the minor/major seventh chord built on C, commonly written as CmM7, has pitches C–E–G–B: { \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #1.5 } \relative c' { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f 1 } } Its harmonic function is similar to that of a "normal" minor seventh, as is the minor seven flat five or half-diminished chord – but in each case, the altered tone (seventh or fifth, respectively) creates a different feeling which is exploited in modulations and to use leading-tones.