The V7 Chord

What is a V7 chord?

The V7 chord is the V chord (the triad built on the fifth tone of the scale) of a major key with a seventh interval added to it. 

What is the function of a V7 chord?

The V7 chord creates a strong sense of tension that resolves back to the tonic chord. In music, we often hear “question and answer” phrasing. This happens when a musical phrase ends by going up, which sounds like asking a question in English, followed by an answer phrase, which ends moving downward. It’s commonly used to end answer phrases, because it naturally resolves to I and helps the phrase end in a downward fashion.

How is a V7 chord built?

You can build the V7 chord by counting up five notes from the first note in that key’s scale (make sure to count the first note in the scale as #1). Build a triad on that note, then add the seventh tone of the scale.

Here’s an example using C major: G is the fifth note in C major, so the chord built is G major (using the notes G-B-D). This is the fifth chord in C major. 
To add the seventh interval to it, count from the first note in the chord up seven notes. The first note in the chord is G, then A, B, C, D, E, and F follow. F is the seventh note, so the full G7 chord is G, B, D, and F. G7 is the V7 chord of C major.
Here’s another example using G major: D is the fifth note in G major, so the chord built is D major (using the notes D-F#-A). This is the fifth chord in G major. 
To add the seventh interval to it, count from the first note in the chord up seven notes. The first note in the chord is D, then E, F#, G, A, B, and C follow. C is the seventh note, so the full D7 chord is D, F#, A, and C. D7 is the V7 chord of G major.

How does a V7 chord resolve?

A V7 chord naturally resolves to a I chord.

How is a V7 chord different from a regular V chord?

A V7 chord is different from a V chord because it includes the seventh interval, which is not present in a V chord. The addition of the seventh interval makes it sound like it needs to move somewhere else, causing the chord sound unstable. Without this interval in the V chord, the V chord sounds much more stable on its own and doesn’t have as much need to resolve.

What other songs use the V7 chord?

The V7 chord is a very popular chord and is featured in many songs throughout most genres. Some other songs that use the V7 chord include songs like “Dinah”, “Twist and Shout” sung by The Beatles, “Mrs Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel, and “Hey Jude” by The Beatles.