ArpeggiosEN

Arpeggio quality

m7

The minor seventh chord is the workhorse of popular music: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top. It is stable enough to sit on as a tonic, yet flexible enough to function as the ii chord in a major ii–V–I, where it leans gently toward the dominant. Blues, funk, rock and jazz all live in this shape, and its four notes map onto the dorian, aeolian and phrygian scales depending on context. Because the seventh is a whole step below the root, the chord has a soft edge rather than a leading-tone pull. Arpeggiated, it teaches the minor third and seventh together. Listen for that open, smoky interval between them.

Formula
1 ♭3 5 ♭7
Notes
C♯ E G♯ B
Family
Minor

Notation in C♯

representative key
441♭35♭7

Fretboard — frets 0–12

C♯ m7 — frets 0 to 12, 27 notes, roots in orange♭35♭71♭3♭71♭35♭75♭71♭3♭35♭71♭71♭35♭35♭71♭30123456789101112
C♯ m7 — frets 0 to 12, 27 notes, roots in orange♭35♭71♭3♭71♭35♭75♭71♭3♭35♭71♭71♭35♭35♭71♭30123456789101112

All 17 keys

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Same family

How to practise this arpeggio

  • Play it as the ii chord of a ii–V–I and hear how it leans toward the dominant.
  • Compare it with the minor triad: the seventh adds smoke without changing the mood.
  • Hold the seventh and the third together and listen for the open interval.
  • Loop the arpeggio over a funk groove and accent the seventh.