A-flat mixolydian 7th chords

The Solution below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode 7th chords, (I7, ii7, iiiø7, IV7, v7, vi7, VII7) on a piano, with mp3 and midi audio.

The Lesson steps then explain the 7th chord construction from this mode, and how to name the quality of each chord based on note intervals.

For a quick summary of this topic, and to see the chord quality chart for this mode, have a look at Mode chord.

Keys in this mode
KeyCC#DbDD#EbEE#FbFF#GbGG#[Ab]AA#BbBB#Cb

Solution - 7 parts

1. A-flat mixolydian chord I7

This step shows the tonic 7th chord of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The A-flat mixolydian chord I7 is the Ab dom 7 chord, and contains the notes Ab, C, Eb, and Gb.

This tonic 7th chords root / starting note is the 1st note (or scale degree) of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The roman numeral for number 1 is 'I', and is used to indicate this is the 1st chord in the mode. Just like a major chord, the dominant 7th chord is constructed using a major third interval,so the roman numeral is shown in upper case.

A-flat mixolydian 7th chord 1 is A-flat dominant 7th

Chord names for A-flat mixolydian chord 1
Chord positionLinka/b/c/d notationFigured bass notation
Root positionAb dominant 7th chord in root positionIaI7
1st inversionAb dominant 7th chord in 1st inversionIbI65
2nd inversionAb dominant 7th chord in 2nd inversionIcI43
3rd inversionAb dominant 7th chord in 3rd inversionIdI2
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

2. A-flat mixolydian chord ii7

This step shows the supertonic 7th chord of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The A-flat mixolydian chord ii7 is the Bb min 7 chord, and contains the notes Bb, Db, F, and Ab.

This supertonic 7th chords root / starting note is the 2nd note (or scale degree) of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The roman numeral for number 2 is 'ii', and is used to indicate this is the 2nd chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

A-flat mixolydian 7th chord 2 is B-flat minor 7th

Chord names for A-flat mixolydian chord 2
Chord positionLinka/b/c/d notationFigured bass notation
Root positionBb minor 7th chord in root positioniiaii7
1st inversionBb minor 7th chord in 1st inversioniibii65
2nd inversionBb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversioniicii43
3rd inversionBb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversioniidii2
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

3. A-flat mixolydian chord iiiø7

This step shows the mediant 7th chord of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The A-flat mixolydian chord iiiø7 is the C half-dim7 chord, and contains the notes C, Eb, Gb, and Bb.

This mediant 7th chords root / starting note is the 3rd note (or scale degree) of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The roman numeral for number 3 is 'iii', and is used to indicate this is the 3rd chord in the mode. Just like a minor chord, the half-diminished 7th chord is constructed using a minor third interval, so the roman numeral is shown in lower case.

The half-diminished symbol 'ø' is placed after the roman numerals to indicate this is a half-diminished 7th chord.

A-flat mixolydian 7th chord 3 is C half-diminished 7th

Chord names for A-flat mixolydian chord 3
Chord positionLinka/b/c/d notationFigured bass notation
Root positionC half-diminished 7th chord in root positioniiiøaiiiø7
1st inversionC half-diminished 7th chord in 1st inversioniiiøbiiiø65
2nd inversionC half-diminished 7th chord in 2nd inversioniiiøciiiø43
3rd inversionC half-diminished 7th chord in 3rd inversioniiiødiiiø2
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

4. A-flat mixolydian chord IV7

This step shows the subdominant 7th chord of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The A-flat mixolydian chord IV7 is the Db maj 7 chord, and contains the notes Db, F, Ab, and C.

This subdominant 7th chords root / starting note is the 4th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The roman numeral for number 4 is 'IV', and is used to indicate this is the 4th chord in the mode. It is in upper case to denote that the chord is a major chord.

A-flat mixolydian 7th chord 4 is D-flat major 7th

Chord names for A-flat mixolydian chord 4
Chord positionLinka/b/c/d notationFigured bass notation
Root positionDb major 7th chord in root positionIVaIV7
1st inversionDb major 7th chord in 1st inversionIVbIV65
2nd inversionDb major 7th chord in 2nd inversionIVcIV43
3rd inversionDb major 7th chord in 3rd inversionIVdIV2
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

5. A-flat mixolydian chord v7

This step shows the dominant 7th chord of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The A-flat mixolydian chord v7 is the Eb min 7 chord, and contains the notes Eb, Gb, Bb, and Db.

This dominant 7th chords root / starting note is the 5th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The roman numeral for number 5 is 'v', and is used to indicate this is the 5th chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

A-flat mixolydian 7th chord 5 is E-flat minor 7th

Chord names for A-flat mixolydian chord 5
Chord positionLinka/b/c/d notationFigured bass notation
Root positionEb minor 7th chord in root positionvav7
1st inversionEb minor 7th chord in 1st inversionvbv65
2nd inversionEb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversionvcv43
3rd inversionEb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversionvdv2
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

6. A-flat mixolydian chord vi7

This step shows the submediant 7th chord of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The A-flat mixolydian chord vi7 is the F min 7 chord, and contains the notes F, Ab, C, and Eb.

This submediant 7th chords root / starting note is the 6th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The roman numeral for number 6 is 'vi', and is used to indicate this is the 6th chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

A-flat mixolydian 7th chord 6 is F minor 7th

Chord names for A-flat mixolydian chord 6
Chord positionLinka/b/c/d notationFigured bass notation
Root positionF minor 7th chord in root positionviavi7
1st inversionF minor 7th chord in 1st inversionvibvi65
2nd inversionF minor 7th chord in 2nd inversionvicvi43
3rd inversionF minor 7th chord in 3rd inversionvidvi2
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

7. A-flat mixolydian chord VII7

This step shows the subtonic 7th chord of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The A-flat mixolydian chord VII7 is the Gb maj 7 chord, and contains the notes Gb, Bb, Db, and F.

This subtonic 7th chords root / starting note is the 7th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

The roman numeral for number 7 is 'VII', and is used to indicate this is the 7th chord in the mode. It is in upper case to denote that the chord is a major chord.

A-flat mixolydian 7th chord 7 is G-flat major 7th

Chord names for A-flat mixolydian chord 7
Chord positionLinka/b/c/d notationFigured bass notation
Root positionGb major 7th chord in root positionVIIaVII7
1st inversionGb major 7th chord in 1st inversionVIIbVII65
2nd inversionGb major 7th chord in 2nd inversionVIIcVII43
3rd inversionGb major 7th chord in 3rd inversionVIIdVII2
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

Lesson steps

1. Piano key note names

This step shows the white and black note names on a piano keyboard so that the note names are familiar for later steps, and to show that the note names start repeating themselves after 12 notes.

The white keys are named using the alphabetic letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, which is a pattern that repeats up the piano keyboard.

Every white or black key could have a flat(b) or sharp(#) accidental name, depending on how that note is used. In a later step, if sharp or flat notes are used, the exact accidental names will be chosen.

Sharp and flat note names

The audio files below play every note shown on the piano above, so middle C (marked with an orange line at the bottom) is the 2nd note heard.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

2. A-flat mixolydian mode notes

This step shows the mode note names that will be used to construct all 7th chords that harmonize with those mode notes.

The piano keyboard below contains the notes of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Starting from the 1st mode note, each lesson step below will take each note in turn and construct a 7th chord using that note as the root / starting note of that chord.

The 7th chord will be built using only the notes of the mode we are interested in.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

7th chords are built using the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes of a mode, so the first 7th chord below will constructed a chord using notes Ab, C, Eb and Gb.

A-flat mixolydian mode
No.12345678
NoteAbBbCDbEbFGbAb

The second 7th chord below will repeat this, but this time starting on the 2nd note, so its notes will be Bb, Db, F and Ab - ie. the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th positions relative to that 2nd root note.

This pattern is repeated for all 7 notes in the mode, resulting in 7 seventh chords.

A-flat mixolydian mode

Identifying the chord quality

Although the above method identifies each 7th chord notes from the mode used, it does not identify the complete chord name including its quality.

Should each 7th chord that we build be called diminished, half-diminished, minorminor-major, dominant, major, augmented, or augmented-major ?

Every 7th chord must have one of these quality names.

To decide the name the chord quality, each step below will use note intervals to calculate how many half-tones / semitones / piano keys between the root and the 3rd, 5th and 7th notes.).

Taken together, the combination of the 3rd, 5th and 7th note intervals will define the complete 7th chord quality name.

The steps below will show how this works for each 7th chord in turn, but in practice it might just be easier to memorize the triad quality table in the Mode chord summary for each mode type.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

3. 1st 7th chord in A-flat mixolydian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a 7th chord whose root note is the 1st scale degree of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode, ordered to show the 1st note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Ab, C, Eb, and Gb.

A-flat mixolydian mode from note #1
No.1234567
NoteAbBbCDbEbFGb

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Ab and C is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at Ab-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Ab and Eb is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Ab-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Ab and Gb is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Ab-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having major(M3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is dominant 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Ab, onto this quality, giving us the Ab dom 7 chord.

A-flat dominant 7th chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol I could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Ab dominant 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat mixolydian mode chord Ia.

Instead, I could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Ab dominant 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord Ib.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Ab dominant 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord Ic.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Ab dominant 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord Id.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after I:

So in this key, I7 refers to the Ab dominant 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, I65 refers to the Ab dominant 7th chord in 1st inversion, I43 refers to the Ab dominant 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and I2 refers to the Ab dominant 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Ab, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

4. 2nd 7th chord in A-flat mixolydian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a 7th chord whose root note is the 2nd scale degree of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode, ordered to show the 2nd note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Bb, Db, F, and Ab.

A-flat mixolydian mode from note #2
No.1234567
NoteBbCDbEbFGbAb

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Bb and Db is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at Bb-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Bb and F is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Bb-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Bb and Ab is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Bb-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is minor 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Bb, onto this quality, giving us the Bb min 7 chord.

B-flat minor 7th chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol ii could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Bb minor 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iia.

Instead, ii could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Bb minor 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iib.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Bb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iic.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Bb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iid.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after ii:

So in this key, ii7 refers to the Bb minor 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, ii65 refers to the Bb minor 7th chord in 1st inversion, ii43 refers to the Bb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and ii2 refers to the Bb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Bb, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

5. 3rd 7th chord in A-flat mixolydian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a 7th chord whose root note is the 3rd scale degree of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode, ordered to show the 3rd note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes C, Eb, Gb, and Bb.

A-flat mixolydian mode from note #3
No.1234567
NoteCDbEbFGbAbBb

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between C and Eb is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at C-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between C and Gb is 6 half-tones, and the note interval name is diminished (d5). More details of this interval are at C-dim-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between C and Bb is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at C-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), diminished(d5) and minor(m7) note intervals is half-diminished 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, C, onto this quality, giving us the C half-dim7 chord.

C half-diminished 7th chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol iiiø could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is C half-diminished 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iiiøa.

Instead, iiiø could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is C half-diminished 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iiiøb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is C half-diminished 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iiiøc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is C half-diminished 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord iiiød.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after iiiø:

So in this key, iiiø7 refers to the C half-diminished 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, iiiø65 refers to the C half-diminished 7th chord in 1st inversion, iiiø43 refers to the C half-diminished 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and iiiø2 refers to the C half-diminished 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, C, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

6. 4th 7th chord in A-flat mixolydian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a 7th chord whose root note is the 4th scale degree of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode, ordered to show the 4th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Db, F, Ab, and C.

A-flat mixolydian mode from note #4
No.1234567
NoteDbEbFGbAbBbC

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Db and F is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at Db-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Db and Ab is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Db-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Db and C is 11 half-tones, and the note interval name is major (M7). More details of this interval are at Db-maj-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having major(M3), perfect(P5) and major(M7) note intervals is major 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Db, onto this quality, giving us the Db maj 7 chord.

D-flat major 7th chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol IV could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Db major 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat mixolydian mode chord IVa.

Instead, IV could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Db major 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord IVb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Db major 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord IVc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Db major 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord IVd.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after IV:

So in this key, IV7 refers to the Db major 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, IV65 refers to the Db major 7th chord in 1st inversion, IV43 refers to the Db major 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and IV2 refers to the Db major 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Db, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

7. 5th 7th chord in A-flat mixolydian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a 7th chord whose root note is the 5th scale degree of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode, ordered to show the 5th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Eb, Gb, Bb, and Db.

A-flat mixolydian mode from note #5
No.1234567
NoteEbFGbAbBbCDb

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Eb and Gb is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at Eb-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Eb and Bb is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Eb-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Eb and Db is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Eb-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is minor 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Eb, onto this quality, giving us the Eb min 7 chord.

E-flat minor 7th chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol v could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat mixolydian mode chord va.

Instead, v could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord vb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord vc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord vd.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after v:

So in this key, v7 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, v65 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in 1st inversion, v43 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and v2 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Eb, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

8. 6th 7th chord in A-flat mixolydian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a 7th chord whose root note is the 6th scale degree of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode, ordered to show the 6th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes F, Ab, C, and Eb.

A-flat mixolydian mode from note #6
No.1234567
NoteFGbAbBbCDbEb

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between F and Ab is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at F-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between F and C is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at F-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between F and Eb is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at F-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is minor 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, F, onto this quality, giving us the F min 7 chord.

F minor 7th chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol vi could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is F minor 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat mixolydian mode chord via.

Instead, vi could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is F minor 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord vib.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is F minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord vic.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is F minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord vid.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after vi:

So in this key, vi7 refers to the F minor 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, vi65 refers to the F minor 7th chord in 1st inversion, vi43 refers to the F minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and vi2 refers to the F minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, F, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

9. 7th 7th chord in A-flat mixolydian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a 7th chord whose root note is the 7th scale degree of the A-flat mixolydian mode.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat mixolydian mode, ordered to show the 7th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Gb, Bb, Db, and F.

A-flat mixolydian mode from note #7
No.1234567
NoteGbAbBbCDbEbF

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Gb and Bb is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at Gb-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Gb and Db is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Gb-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Gb and F is 11 half-tones, and the note interval name is major (M7). More details of this interval are at Gb-maj-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having major(M3), perfect(P5) and major(M7) note intervals is major 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Gb, onto this quality, giving us the Gb maj 7 chord.

G-flat major 7th chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol VII could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Gb major 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat mixolydian mode chord VIIa.

Instead, VII could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Gb major 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord VIIb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Gb major 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord VIIc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Gb major 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat mixolydian mode chord VIId.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after VII:

So in this key, VII7 refers to the Gb major 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, VII65 refers to the Gb major 7th chord in 1st inversion, VII43 refers to the Gb major 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and VII2 refers to the Gb major 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

This completes the set of all 7th chords that harmonize with the A-flat mixolydian mode.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

Related Keys and Topics