Basic chord theory

The chords are built on scales.

The C Major scale is C D E F G A B (C)

Most chords include the first third and fifth notes, the triad or C E G for C Major

Adding the seventh C E G B gives you a Major 7th chord CM7

The dominant 7th lowers the seventh by a half step making the C7 chord C E G Bb

The C minor scale is C D Eb F G Ab Bb (C)

So the dominant 7th chord uses the major scale triad C E G and adds the minor 7th, Bb

So if you are C minor, looking at the C minor scale, following the formula 1 3 5 (triad) +7, you get C Eb G Bb for Cm7

Bonus fact: the C dominant chord also contains the E diminished triad, E G Bb, sometimes called a tritone.

So your first step, if you don't know this already, is to learn your major and minor scales. Then simply use the formula for the triad and whatever additions are added.

Basic music theory is not difficult, and if you take the time to learn, everything else in music will get a lot easier. The time you will eventually save will far exceed the time you spend learning the theory.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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