8.3: Roman Numerals of Diatonic Seventh Chords

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 117431

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

8.3 Roman Numerals of Diatonic Seventh Chords

When notating seventh chords with Roman numerals, there are a few conventions to follow. An uppercase Roman numeral means a major triad and a lowercase Roman numeral means a minor triad. Adding “7” after a Roman numeral means there is a minor seventh between the root and seventh of the chord. Therefore, VV7 means a major triad with a minor seventh between the root and seventh and vivi7 means a minor triad and a minor seventh between the root and seventh. Add “M7” for a major seventh chord (e.g., IMIM7). The half-diminished symbol (øø7) means there is a diminished triad with a minor seventh from root to seventh. The diminished symbol (∘7) on a seventh chord means the triad is diminished and the distance from the root to seventh is a diminished seventh.

Below are the diatonic seventh chords used in major and minor and their Roman numerals.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Roman numerals for diatonic seventh chords in major

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Roman numerals for diatonic seventh chords in minor