Minor seventh

The musical interval of a minor seventh the first note (the root or tonic) and the seventh in a minor scale. It is the inversion of the Major second.

It can be produced by starting on a high note and playing the seventh below or by starting on a low note and playing the seventh above.

A minor seventh in just intonation corresponds to a pitch ratio of 9:5 or 1:1.8, or various other ratios, while in an equal tempered tuning it is a ratio of 1:2^10/12 (approximately 1.781), or 1000 cents, 17.596 centss shorter.

The minor seventh is considered the most dissonant interval after its inversion the Major second, the Major seventh, and the minor second.

See also:

• musical tuning