A seventh chord is drawn on the staff, in root position. Your task is to identify its type: dominant seventh, half-diminished (leading-tone) seventh or diminished seventh.
The three types of seventh chord
| Type | Symbol | Structure above the root |
|---|---|---|
| Dominant seventh | V7 | M3 + P5 + m7 |
| Half-diminished (leading-tone) seventh | ø7 | m3 + d5 + m7 |
| Diminished seventh | °7 | m3 + d5 + d7 |
How to recognize root position
In root position the four notes are three thirds stacked on top of each other, and the bass is the root. Read the intervals above the bass to find the type.
Exercise
How to use the exercise: Choose one of the three possible types and press Check. The app corrects your answer right away and, if you miss, shows the correct one.
Other positions: First inversion, Second inversion, Third inversion, All positions. To practice writing them instead of recognizing them, try building seventh chords. For the full theory, see the pages on the dominant seventh, the half-diminished seventh and the diminished seventh.
Printable worksheet (PDF)
The same exercise on paper, for class: 21 seventh chords in root position, mixing dominant, leading-tone and diminished, on one side of A4. The student writes the type. With a separate answer sheet.
Download the worksheet (PDF, A4) Answers
You may print and photocopy it freely for the classroom.
More worksheets
Need more practice on paper? Generate as many worksheets as you like, each one with different chords, and print them straight from your browser.