Jazz Piano Chords: The 4 Core Chord Types
The four most important jazz piano chords are the Major 7 chord, Minor 7 chord, Dominant 7 chord, and Half-Diminished chord. These four chord types form the foundation of most jazz harmony and appear throughout the majority of jazz standards.
They are used so frequently because the ii–V–I progression is built from them. In a major ii–V–I, you use Minor 7, Dominant 7, and Major 7 chords. In a minor ii–V–I, you use Half-Diminished, Dominant 7, and Minor 7 chords.
Since most jazz songs are based on ii–V–I progressions in different keys, these four chord types appear far more often than any other chord type in jazz.
Watch me demonstrate (4 minutes):
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The Four Main Types of Jazz Chords
There are four essential seventh chords used throughout jazz piano:
• Major 7 (Maj7)
• Minor 7 (Min7)
• Dominant 7 (7)
• Half-Diminished (m7♭5)
Here's how they look notated in sheet music (the first four chords from the left):
Learning these four chord types will allow you to understand most jazz chord progressions and jazz songs.
Major 7 Chords
A Major 7 chord is built using:
• Major 3rd
• Minor 3rd
• Major 3rd
For example, C Major 7 contains:
C – E – G – B
To find a Major 7 chord from any note:
• Find the root and fifth
• Add the major third
• Find the major seventh by going up an octave and down a half step
Minor 7 Chords
A Minor 7 chord is built using:
• Minor 3rd
• Major 3rd
• Minor 3rd
For example, C Minor 7 contains:
C – E♭ – G – B♭
To find a Minor 7 chord from any note:
• Find the root and fifth
• Add the minor third
• Find the minor seventh by going up an octave and down a whole step
Dominant 7 Chords
A Dominant 7 chord is built using:
• Major 3rd
• Minor 3rd
• Minor 3rd
For example, C7 contains:
C – E – G – B♭
To build a Dominant 7 chord:
• Find the fifth
• Add the major third
• Add the minor seventh
In jazz notation, Dominant 7 chords are written simply as C7. The word "dominant" (or "dom") does not appear in the chord symbol.
This differs from Major 7 and Minor 7 chords, which are written as Cmaj7 and Cmin7 (or Cm7).
Half-Diminished Chords (Minor 7 Flat 5)
The Half-Diminished chord is also known as a Minor 7 Flat 5 chord (m7♭5).
For example, C Half-Diminished contains:
C – E♭ – G♭ – B♭
Its interval structure is:
• Minor 3rd
• Minor 3rd
• Major 3rd
One way to think about this chord is as a Minor 7 chord with a flattened fifth.
Why These Four Chords Matter
Major 7, Minor 7, Dominant 7, and Half-Diminished chords are the four most important chord types in jazz piano.
If you open a lead sheet to a jazz standard, you'll see these chord types appear again and again. Most jazz harmony is built from them.
Learning to build these chords from all 12 notes is one of the most important early milestones in jazz piano. Once you've mastered them, you'll be ready to learn common jazz progressions such as the ii–V–I and begin playing jazz standards.
Next Step
Now that you understand the four core jazz piano chord types, the next concept to learn is the II-V-I progression, which shows how these chords function together in real jazz songs.
→ Ultimate Guide to Jazz Piano
For the most complete roadmap covering chords, progressions, voicings, scales, improvisation, and how jazz piano fits together.
Free Jazz Chords Guide
Want a printable reference of the most important jazz chords?
This one-page sheet covers jazz chord symbols beyond the basic four chord types, including 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, sus4 chords, and altered chords.