

The dominant seventh chord is one of the most straightforward chords to identify because it only has one form: The following is an example of a G Dominant Seventh Chord in the key of C Major: These are also known as major-minor seventh chords because their structure is made up of a major triad and a minor seventh. However, the only time a symbol accompanies dominant chords is when they are dominant seventh chords. For example, the dominant chord in the key of D Major is A Major. The dominant chord in a major or minor key refers to the chord built on the fifth scale degree. Minor chords may also be represented by an uppercase letter and a lowercase “m,” for example, Dm. The lowercase letters can get confusing when it comes to letters like c, a, and f, so adding the “m” is usually preferred by musicians. Minor chords are most commonly represented by lowercase letters, either accompanied by a lowercase “m” or by themselves, for example, d or dm. The following symbols can all indicate major chords: Minor Chords Without the “M”, as we will see in the section on dominant chords, the chord will be assumed as dominant instead of major.

However, when it comes to seventh chords, you must place a capital “M” next to the letter, for example, AM7. For example, if you see the letter “A” on a lead sheet, you can assume it’s an A Major chord. Major chords are most commonly represented by an uppercase letter with no other symbols.
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If you need a refresher on what these terms mean, check out our Glossary of Musical Terms or our article How to Read Sheet Music: Step by Step Instructions.

The first thing to understand in chord symbols is the letters. Most sheet music contains notated melodies with chord symbols written above them, and we’re here to give you a rundown of what these symbols mean and how to use them. These symbols consist of letters, numbers, or symbols that indicate the root (or tonic) on which the chord should be built, as well the quality (major, minor, etc.) of the chord. Chord symbols in music can be confusing, simply because there are a lot of them.
