Major 7th chords

Phil_aka_Pip

Cmaj7 or C <little triangle> 7 pleez.

"CM7" is bad enough in print (even though you're supposed to suss from the upper case that Cm7 is not meant) but in handwriting - if you perpetrate it you should be shot.

Anyone else hate the M7 notation?

MatthewShreddery

Maj7 chords are for sissies anyway so who cares?

MatthewShreddery

Phil_aka_Pip

If liking them makes me a sissy, then I'm a sissy

BTW I also like minor, dominant, half-diminished, and diminished 7ths. I don't think I'm discriminatory, except for the context in which I use them

frankus

My philosophy is this: CΔ - chances are very very strong that I'm going to try it as CΔ7, CΔ9, CΔ11 and CΔ13 at least once anyway

Equally I don't bother embellishing Cm to Cm7 as I like Cm13 and Cm♭13 and seeing which does the trick.

As for Δ7 being for wimps, try subbing a Diminished chords for a Δ7 a semitone below. 

Phil_aka_Pip

wotyer fink of the notation though @frankus? whenever I see 'm' (or even 'M') I read it as minor, and then have to perform some kind of mental correction because somebody has used upper case to mean major. and in handwriting, it's just effing ambiguous!

frankus

I always use a delta, most of the fake books I've ever used, use a delta for major or Maj. 

Band in a Box uses " Maj" which is clearer than an upper case M.

I don't like capitalisation in notation, although at one stage I used to write Nashville notation thusly: iii iv ii V I - I got told off by Dario Cortese  

equalsql

frankus said:

My philosophy is this: CΔ - chances are very very strong that I'm going to try it as CΔ7, CΔ9, CΔ11 and CΔ13 at least once anyway

Equally I don't bother embellishing Cm to Cm7 as I like Cm13 and Cm♭13 and seeing which does the trick.

As for Δ7 being for wimps, try subbing a Diminished chords for a Δ7 a semitone below. 

Are we talking maths here with all these triangles? ... C and the rate of change of 7, C and the rate of change of 9..  my head hurts.

Cmaj7 chords are lovely happy spring bright things that should never be hurt and should have their own happy smiley thread...anyway!

GuyBoden

frankus said:

My philosophy is this: CΔ - chances are very very strong that I'm going to try it as CΔ7, CΔ9, CΔ11 and CΔ13 at least once anyway

Equally I don't bother embellishing Cm to Cm7 as I like Cm13 and Cm♭13 and seeing which does the trick.

As for Δ7 being for wimps, try subbing a Diminished chords for a Δ7 a semitone below. 

Yes, the triangle sign (Δ) is popular, I think the triangle originally signified a triad.

mike_l

I was taught M7 can be read as minor7, so to be clear it's Maj7.

 

I think I've played a Maj7 once in the last 5 years.

Phil_aka_Pip

Just to be clear: Cmaj7 should be written that way or as CΔ7 ...

... but NEVER as "CM7"

frankus

Agreed, CM7 is Dunmow

Phil_aka_Pip

@frankus well played sir!

GuyBoden

frankus said:

Agreed, CM7 is Dunmow

I think Dunmow is CM6, Braintree is CM7

frankus

Braintree?

GuyBoden

frankus said:

Braintree?

Ah yes, CM7 is Braintree, Dunmow is CM6.

frankus

ok

GuyBoden

Anyway, I've only ever played Maj7 chords when playing old Jazz standards. I never play the fifth with a Maj7, so adding more flexibility for the soloist. With a band, you really only need two notes the 3rd and 7th.

frankus

bass players tend to get territorial over the root and fifth

ArchtopDave

Major 7th's can be Minor 9th's in disguise.

Phil_aka_Pip

ArchtopDave said:

Major 7th's can be Minor 9th's in disguise.

im intrigued. how so?