Master 7th Chords with Solfège

How to Hear Seventh Chords in a Major Key Using Solfège Seventh chords are an essential part of music theory, adding depth and color to harmonies in any musical style. For musicians of all kinds, developing the skill to recognize these chords by ear can greatly enhance your musicality. In this article, we'll explore how to hear seventh chords in a major key using solfège —a powerful tool in Holistic Ear Training.
Sep 27 / Hans
How to Hear Seventh Chords in a Major Key Using Solfège

Seventh chords are an essential part of music theory, adding depth and color to harmonies in any musical style. For musicians of all kinds, developing the skill to recognize these chords by ear can greatly enhance your musicality. In this article, we'll explore how to hear seventh chords in a major key using solfège —a powerful tool in Holistic Ear Training.



Understanding Seventh Chords with Solfège
Solfege, using syllables like do, re, mi, fa, so, la ti helps musicians internalize the sound of each note in a scale. This method is incredibly effective when learning to identify the distinct qualities of seventh chords within a major key.

What makes this way of listening so powerful is that it not only tunes you in to knowing the quality of a chord, but it enables you to quickly identify which chord it is.

When you start hearing using this method, you will find improvising an a group becomes remarkably easier.



Let's break down the seven types of seventh chords you’ll encounter and how to hear them using solfege:



Major Seventh Chord (I7) - do, mi, so, ti

The "one major seventh chord" is built on the first scale degree (do) and is characterized by a major triad with a major seventh interval up from the root (do). If you hear do and ti at the same time, it is probably the Ima7!



Minor Seventh Chord (ii7) - re, fa, la, & do

The "two chord" in the major key (ii7) is a minor seventh chord. Notice how do softens the sound of the minor triad below it.



Minor Seventh Chord (iii7) - mi, so, ti, re

Similar to the ii7 chord, the iii7 is another minor seventh. Listen for mi and re to identify this chord.



Major Seventh Chord (IV7) - fa, la, do, mi

Like the I7, the "four major seventh chord" is a major seventh chord. In this case, you'll notice the presence of fa and mi at the same time, along with la and do.



Dominant Seventh Chord (V7) - so, ti, re, fa

The "five seven" (V7) chord is one of the most recognizable due to its strong pull towards resolution: notice the way ti and fa interact with each other. It’s built on so and is often used to create tension that leads back to the tonic.



*Minor Seventh Chord (vi7) - la, do, mi, so


The vi7 chord is yet another minor seventh chord. Notice that it shares three tones with the I7 chord! How does that affect how you hear?



Half-Diminished Seventh Chord (viiø7) - ti, re, fa, la


The "seven half-diminished seventh" chord shares three tones with the V7 and with them comes a certain tendency toward resolution.



Why Solfege is Key to Hearing Seventh Chords
Using solfège in ear training simplifies the process of identifying seventh chords. By associating the sound of each chord with specific solfege syllables, you build a mental map that makes recognition almost instinctual.





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