In music theory, a minor seventh is one of two musical intervals that span seven staff positions. It is minor because it is the smaller of the two sevenths, spanning ten semitones. The major seventh spans eleven. For example, the interval from A to G is a minor seventh, as the note G lies ten semitones above A, and there are seven staff positions from A to G. Diminished and augmented sevenths span the same number of staff positions, but consist of a different number of semitones (nine and twelve, respectively).
Minor seventh intervals rarely feature in melodies (and especially in their openings) but occur more often than major sevenths[according to whom?]. A well-known example, in part due to its frequent use in theory classes, is found between the first two words of the phrase "There's a place for us" in the song "Somewhere" in West Side Story.[3] Another well-known example occurs between the first two notes of the introduction to the main theme music from Star Trek: The Original Seriestheme.[4]
Consonance and dissonance are relative, depending on context, the minor seventh being defined as a dissonance requiring resolution to a consonance.[5]
In other temperamentsedit
In just intonation there is both a 16:9 "small just minor seventh", also called the "Pythagorean small minor seventh",[6](Playⓘ) equivalent to two perfect fourths stacked on top of each other, and a 9:5 "large just minor seventh" (Playⓘ)[7][8] equivalent to a perfect fifth and a minor third on top of each other. An interval close in frequency is the harmonic seventh. (Playⓘ) [9]
^Keith Wyatt, Carl Schroeder, Joe Elliott (2005). Ear Training for the Contemporary Musician, p.69. ISBN0-7935-8193-1.
^Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p.53. Seventh Edition. ISBN978-0-07-294262-0.
^"On Certain Novel Aspects of Harmony", p.119. Eustace J. Breakspeare. Proceedings of the Musical Association, 13th Sess., (1886 - 1887), pp. 113-131. Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Musical Association.
^"The Heritage of Greece in Music", p.89. Wilfrid Perrett. Proceedings of the Musical Association, 58th Sess., (1931 - 1932), pp. 85-103. Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Musical Association.
^David Dunn, 2000. Harry Partch: an anthology of critical perspectives.
January 01, 1970
minor, seventh, this, article, about, interval, chord, chord, music, theory, minor, seventh, musical, intervals, that, span, seven, staff, positions, minor, because, smaller, sevenths, spanning, semitones, major, seventh, spans, eleven, example, interval, from. This article is about the interval For the chord see Minor seventh chord In music theory a minor seventh is one of two musical intervals that span seven staff positions It is minor because it is the smaller of the two sevenths spanning ten semitones The major seventh spans eleven For example the interval from A to G is a minor seventh as the note G lies ten semitones above A and there are seven staff positions from A to G Diminished and augmented sevenths span the same number of staff positions but consist of a different number of semitones nine and twelve respectively minor seventhInversemajor secondNameOther names Abbreviationm7SizeSemitones10Interval class2Just interval16 9 1 or 9 5 2 Cents12 Tone equal temperament1000Just intonation996 or 1018 Minor seventh Play equal tempered or just Minor seventh intervals rarely feature in melodies and especially in their openings but occur more often than major sevenths according to whom A well known example in part due to its frequent use in theory classes is found between the first two words of the phrase There s a place for us in the song Somewhere in West Side Story 3 Another well known example occurs between the first two notes of the introduction to the main theme music from Star Trek The Original Series theme 4 The most common occurrence of the minor seventh is built on the root of the prevailing key s dominant triad producing the all important dominant seventh chord Consonance and dissonance are relative depending on context the minor seventh being defined as a dissonance requiring resolution to a consonance 5 In other temperaments editIn just intonation there is both a 16 9 small just minor seventh also called the Pythagorean small minor seventh 6 Play equivalent to two perfect fourths stacked on top of each other and a 9 5 large just minor seventh Play 7 8 equivalent to a perfect fifth and a minor third on top of each other An interval close in frequency is the harmonic seventh Play 9 See also editMinor seventh chord Musical tuning List of meantone intervals Harmonic seventhReferences edit Haluska 2003 p xxiv Pythagorean minor seventh Haluska Jan 2003 The Mathematical Theory of Tone Systems p xxiii ISBN 0 8247 4714 3 Just minor seventh Neely Blake 2009 Piano For Dummies p 201 ISBN 0 470 49644 4 Keith Wyatt Carl Schroeder Joe Elliott 2005 Ear Training for the Contemporary Musician p 69 ISBN 0 7935 8193 1 Benward amp Saker 2003 Music In Theory and Practice Vol I p 53 Seventh Edition ISBN 978 0 07 294262 0 On Certain Novel Aspects of Harmony p 119 Eustace J Breakspeare Proceedings of the Musical Association 13th Sess 1886 1887 pp 113 131 Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Musical Association The Heritage of Greece in Music p 89 Wilfrid Perrett Proceedings of the Musical Association 58th Sess 1931 1932 pp 85 103 Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Musical Association Partch Harry 1979 Genesis of a Music p 68 ISBN 0 306 80106 X David Dunn 2000 Harry Partch an anthology of critical perspectives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Minor seventh amp oldid 1185879475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
