What Is a Minor-Major 7th Chord?
A minor-major 7th chord combines a minor triad with a major 7th interval. The name describes it exactly: it's minor on the bottom (minor third) and major on the top (major 7th). This clash creates a uniquely dramatic, tense sound.
The semitone distance between the major 7th (B) and the root an octave up (C) creates extreme tension. This chord appears naturally on the tonic of the harmonic minor scale — which is one of the reasons harmonic minor sounds so dramatic.
How to Build a Minor-Major 7th Chord
Formula
Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th
Semitones: 0 — 3 — 7 — 11
Example: C Minor-Major 7th
- C (root)
- E♭ (3 semitones = minor third)
- G (7 semitones = perfect fifth)
- B (11 semitones = major seventh)
The tension: The B (major 7th) is only 1 semitone below C (the octave). This creates extreme dissonance against the minor tonality below it — darkness fighting brightness.
All 12 Minor-Major 7th Chords
| Chord | Root | Minor 3rd | Perfect 5th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CmMaj7 | C | E♭ | G | B |
| GmMaj7 | G | B♭ | D | F# |
| DmMaj7 | D | F | A | C# |
| AmMaj7 | A | C | E | G# |
| EmMaj7 | E | G | B | D# |
| BmMaj7 | B | D | F# | A# |
| F#mMaj7 | F# | A | C# | E# |
| FmMaj7 | F | A♭ | C | E |
| B♭mMaj7 | B♭ | D♭ | F | A |
| E♭mMaj7 | E♭ | G♭ | B♭ | D |
| A♭mMaj7 | A♭ | C♭ | E♭ | G |
| D♭mMaj7 | D♭ | F♭ | A♭ | C |
The Sound of a Minor-Major 7th Chord
Dark, tense, dramatic, cinematic, unsettling, sophisticated.
The minor-major 7th is one of the most striking sounds in harmony. The minor third pulls the mood down; the major 7th stretches upward to the very edge of the octave. The result is a chord that feels like it's holding two opposing forces in tension — never quite resolving.
You hear this chord in film scores (especially thrillers and noir), in jazz of the post-bop era, and in composers like Ravel and Rodrigo who loved its dramatic bite.
Minor-Major 7th in Harmonic Minor
The harmonic minor scale is constructed specifically to create a dominant 7th on the V chord — but a side effect is that the tonic chord becomes a minor-major 7th:
C Harmonic Minor scale: C D E♭ F G A♭ B
im chord: C E♭ G B = CmMaj7
The raised 7th (B instead of B♭) is what creates both the tension and the dramatic V7→i resolution.
How to Use Minor-Major 7th Chords
1. In harmonic minor progressions: Use CmMaj7 as the i chord when playing in harmonic minor for a classical, dramatic sound.
2. In film scoring: A minor-major 7th chord sets an immediately tense, cinematic mood.
3. As a chromatic passing chord: Move from im7 → imMaj7 → iMaj7 for a classic descending bass line with rising inner voice.
4. In jazz: Used by Bill Evans and other pianists as an alternative to im7 for its more complex, edgy sound.
Free: Chord Ear Training Cheat Sheet
Train your ear to recognise the dark, dramatic quality of the minor-major 7th chord.