BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
385 / 18210 · Module 10 — Seventh Chords: The Language of Jazz, Pop, and Richer Harmony← prev⊞ allnext →

10.35Practical chord-symbol translation

When you see:

Fmaj7

Fmaj7 = F A C E

think:

F major triad + major 7.

F A C E.

When you see:

Fm7

Fm7 = F A♭ C E♭

think:

minor triad + minor 7.

F A♭ C E♭.

When you see:

F7

F7 = F A C E♭

think:

major triad + minor 7.

F A C E♭.

When you see:

Fm7♭5

think:

minor 7, lower the fifth.

F A♭ C♭ E♭.

Don't memorize each chord separately.

Apply formulas.