363 / 18210 · Module 10 — Seventh Chords: The Language of Jazz, Pop, and Richer Harmony← prev⊞ allnext →
10.13The fifth degree is special
In C major:
degree 5 = G
The seventh chord built on G is:
G7
not:
Gmaj7.
Why?
Because the C-major scale contains F natural, not F♯.
So:
G B D F
= dominant 7.
This is why the V chord naturally carries dominant tension.