---
title: "Dominant Seventh Chord (V7): Notes and Resolution · Piakno"
description: "A dominant seventh is the major triad on the fifth degree of the scale with a minor seventh added on top. In C major that is G–B–D–F, written G7. Its job is to create an unmistakable pull back to the tonic."
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---

# The dominant seventh chord

> A dominant seventh is the major triad on the fifth degree of the scale with a minor seventh added on top. In C major that is G–B–D–F, written G7. Its job is to create an unmistakable pull back to the tonic.

Also called V7

Every major key contains exactly one dominant seventh, and all four of its notes come from the key itself — it needs no accidental. That is why it turns up everywhere: it is the only chord in the key that is naturally unstable, so it sounds like a signpost.

*The dominant seventh in C major: G–B–D–F. Root, third, fifth, seventh.*

The tension comes from a tritone inside it: B to F is six half steps, the most restless distance there is. Resolving it squeezes both notes inward — B rises a half step to C, F falls a half step to E — and what lands is a C major triad.

*B up a half step to C, F down a half step to E: the two notes close inward and you are home.*

| Key | Dominant seventh | Resolves to |
| --- | --- | --- |
| C major | G7 = G B D F | C |
| G major | D7 = D F♯ A C | G |
| F major | C7 = C E G B♭ | F |
| A minor | E7 = E G♯ B D | Am |

> That last row is the key to harmonic minor. The chord built on the fifth degree of natural minor is a minor chord, and it does not push hard enough — so the G is raised to G♯. Most of the accidentals littering a minor piece are there for this reason.

## Common questions

### What notes are in a G7 chord?

G, B, D and F: a G major triad with an F added a minor seventh above the root. All four are notes of C major, so G7 needs no accidentals in that key.

### Why does V7 lead to I?

V7 means the seventh chord on the fifth degree. Its B and F form a tritone and want to close inward to C and E, two notes of the tonic chord, so the ear hears the move to I as arrival.

### What is the difference between a dominant seventh and a major seventh?

A dominant seventh adds a minor seventh to a major triad (G–B–D–F) and is unstable. A major seventh adds a major seventh (C–E–G–B), is written maj7 and sounds mellow, pulling nowhere in particular.

### Is C7 the same as a C dominant seventh?

Yes. A bare 7 in a chord symbol always means the dominant seventh: C7 is C–E–G–B♭, a C major triad with a minor seventh. A major seventh has to be written maj7.

## The course works through this in:

- [Lesson 91 · The dominant seventh](https://piakno.com/course/piano-foundations/lesson/91)

## Related entries

- [Major and minor triads](https://piakno.com/theory/major-and-minor-triads)
- [The circle of fifths](https://piakno.com/theory/circle-of-fifths)
- [Chord inversions](https://piakno.com/theory/chord-inversions)
- [Cadences](https://piakno.com/theory/cadences)

- [Theory reference](https://piakno.com/theory)