Scale Degrees & Chord Numbers

[Arizona Jones]

Are the following major & minor scale degrees and chords numbers correct?

MAJOR KEYS
I chord- major
ii chord- minor 7
iii chord- minor 7
IV chord- major
V chord- dom 7
vi chord- minor 7
vii chord- minor 7/flat5

MINOR KEYS
i chord- minor 7
ii chord- minor 7/flat5
III chord- major
iv chord- minor 7
v chord- minor 7
VI chord- major
VII chord- dom 7

The reason I'm asking is that I was reading a bass book last night and it said that "In minor keys, the III and VI chord are major, and the rest are minor 7." How can that be? What about the VII chord? Shouldn't it be major, and dominant 7?

Thanks for any info!

[Der Bluten Kat]

it depends on certain situations... some of the scales you're going to play are different than the number you posted and some degree changes are left out.. like in dorian you have a natural 6... i would recommend getting a book called "Jazz Bass Clef Expressions" by David N. Baker... that helped me get a good understanding of how all the scales go along with their inversions... but for the most part you have it right

[Der Bluten Kat]

to add a 'lil more.. in a lot of songs when you change to the "V chord".. it tends to be major.. go figure

[Angus]

Alright, before anyone gives you any bad information, the reason why this is confusing is that in a minor key, the seventh of the key (the leading tone) is usually raised to allow a half-step increment to the tonic. There are numerous reasons why, but the most basic is just that it provides a much stronger resolution back to the tonic (the key).

So if you take A minor, for example, the notes in A natural minor are A B C D E F G A. If you raise the seventh to get the half-step resolution to the tonic, you now have A B C D E F G# A, or a harmonic minor scale.

Normally, the VII chord would be dominant, having a G-B-D-F, but the raised G means that it is G#-B-D-F, so now is half-diminished (minor).

Following along with that, in most music, the V chord in minor keys then becomes a dominant chord, again due to the key's raised seventh.

I don't know if the first poster to reply to you understood the question.

[DocBop]

I learned in music school like Angus said... The minor scale used is a combination of all minors which gives the major 7th in a minor scale. That gives you a dominant 7th V chord and typically an altered dominant. In Jazz the Melodic Minor is the main minor scale used. It is the source of the Lydian b7 scale and the Altered scale you hear quite often over dominant chords.

[Stumpy]

Originally Posted by Angus

Alright, before anyone gives you any bad information, the reason why this is confusing is that in a minor key, the seventh of the key (the leading tone) is usually raised to allow a half-step increment to the tonic. There are numerous reasons why, but the most basic is just that it provides a much stronger resolution back to the tonic (the key).

So if you take A minor, for example, the notes in A natural minor are A B C D E F G A. If you raise the seventh to get the half-step resolution to the tonic, you now have A B C D E F G# A, or a harmonic minor scale.

Normally, the VII chord would be dominant, having a G-B-D-F, but the raised G means that it is G#-B-D-F, so now is half-diminished (minor).

Following along with that, in most music, the V chord in minor keys then becomes a dominant chord, again due to the key's raised seventh.

I don't know if the first poster to reply to you understood the question.

+1

There are more than just one minor scales. Stack the scale degrees up in triad format C-E-G (and B if using the 7th). Then see if it is major or minor or diminished or augmented etc. If you use 1/2 steps to find your intervals then...

Major = 4 half steps / 3 half steps (C to E, E to G)
Minor = 3 half steps / 4 half steps (C to Eb, Eb to G)
Diminished = 3 half steps / 3 half steps (C to Eb, Eb to Gb)
Augmented = 4 half steps / 4 half steps (C to E, E to G#)

7ths

Major = 4/3/4
Dominant = 4/3/3
Minor = 3/4/3
Minor7 (b5)/half diminished = 3/3/4
Diminished = 3/3/3

The nutjob of the group is the Augmented 7 ... Just raise the 5th of a Major 7th chord and that is it. 4/4/3.

Hours days weeks months years....You could spend on this. You can learn all of this stuff, the basics, in your first year of music theory at any college/university. The Legit side of the house I recommend the Kostka theory books...or the Benward. On the Commercial side I recommend the Mark Levine Jazz Theory book.

Glad to hear that you are getting it straight in your brain.

[Arizona Jones]

"Alright, before anyone gives you any bad information"

Thanks, Angus! I understood your reply, and it makes sense.