Degree Names for Four-Note Chords (Natural Minor Diatonic Chords)
This time, following on from the triads last time, let's check the degree names for four-note chords.
When you analyze songs, both triads and four-note chords often appear, so be sure to master them.
This time too, the content of Lessons 21-26 or so and the knowledge from last time are essential, so if you have forgotten them, please review.
The tables used in the explanation can be downloaded below.
We hope they help with your studies.
https://sleepfreaks-dtm.com/music/Natural_Minor_Diatonic_Tetrad.zip
Diatonic Chords Follow the Same Rules as Triads
Let's look at a list of natural minor diatonic chords as four-note chords.
As with triads, memorizing all of these is hard.
However, four-note chords follow the same rules as triads.
The quality of the chords built from left to right along the scale is the same; that is the key point.
- Diatonic chords of A (natural) minor (four-note chords)
- Diatonic chords of C (natural) minor (four-note chords)
As you can see, they all follow the order
minor seventh / minor seventh flat five / major seventh / minor seventh / minor seventh / major seventh / dominant seventh
.
As with triads, on the piano roll you can easily create them by shifting in parallel.
Focus on this rule and memorize the degrees of each scale by replacing them with Roman numerals.
Assigning Roman Numerals Along the Scale
Assign Roman numerals in order, starting from the first note of the scale.
Let's proceed with C natural minor.
The degree names are as follows.
Some notations omit the "♭," but in this course, as last time, we include "♭" to stay aware of the differences from other scales and diatonic chords, and for techniques we will learn later.
Now let's build diatonic chords from here.
The procedure is as shown in Lesson 46.
Also, write the quality of each chord next to its Roman numeral.
Done.
This means that just by putting the notes of each natural minor scale in place of the Roman numerals, you can cover all the natural minor diatonic chords (four-note chords).
There are various ways of writing degree names, such as adding "△" next to major chords or showing minor chords in lowercase ("iii," etc.). In this course, we use the notation above throughout.
By the way, the name of each is as follows.
- Im7 = one minor seventh
- IIm7b5 = two minor seventh flat five
- bIIImaj7 = flat three major seventh
- IVm7 = four minor seventh
- Vm7 = five minor seventh
- bVImaj7 = flat six major seventh
- bVII7 = flat seven seventh (dominant seventh)
Using Degree Names
As with major, degree names are useful when you want to try a song you are making or a chord progression you have analyzed in a different minor key.
Let's try it in Fm.
If the F natural minor scale doesn't come to mind right away, start from the F major scale and flatten the 3rd, 6th and 7th.
Then just fit the notes of the scale into the Roman numeral positions of the degree names, and you can immediately handle the key change.
Finally, here is a table of natural minor diatonic chords (four-note chords) with Roman numerals.
Please make use of it (save the linked file to get a larger version).
Next time, we will start preparing to write songs using minor diatonic chords.
We will also get closer to why other minor scales exist, so stay tuned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many four-note degree names are there in natural minor?
There are seven: Im7, IIm7b5, bIIImaj7, IVm7, Vm7, bVImaj7 and bVII7. They are arranged in order from the 1st to the 7th degree of the scale. They keep the same chord qualities in every minor key, so once you learn them you can apply them to every minor scale.
Q2. What are the benefits of using degree names?
They are very handy when transposing a song to another minor key. If you have a chord progression written in Roman numerals, you can change keys instantly just by fitting in the notes of the scale, greatly improving your production efficiency.
Q3. Are the chord qualities the same for triads and four-note chords?
The quality of the chords built from left to right along the scale is the same. The difference is that four-note chords add a seventh, giving a richer, more complex sound. It's important to understand the rules of both.
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