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New Released in April 2026
When to Use 7th Chords (and Which One)
A 7 on a chord adds one note, and each type of 7th has a job. The quick answer for when to use 7th chords: put a dominant 7 on the chord before home, maj7 on chords that should feel soft, and m7 on the minor chords of the key.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
One rule per type
- Dominant 7 (G7): on V, right before I. It adds pull, so G7 to C sounds more final than G to C.
- Major 7 (Cmaj7): on I and IV for a soft, open colour. Avoid it on V, where it removes the pull.
- Minor 7 (Dm7, Em7, Am7): on ii, iii and vi. Smooth, never clashing.
- Half diminished (Bm7b5): on vii in major or ii in minor, leading to V.
What the 7 means in a chord name
G7 means a dominant 7th: the major chord plus a note a whole step below the octave (F). Cmaj7 adds a note a half step below the octave (B). Cm7 is a minor chord with the lower 7th (Bb). The symbol tells you which 7th, so read it carefully.
When to Use 7th Chords (and Which One)
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps.
Play the demoWhere 9ths fit
Once 7ths feel natural, 9ths add one more colour on top: maj9 on I and IV, m9 on ii and vi, 9 on V. Use them when the music is slow enough to hear them; in a fast rhythm part, triads often sound cleaner.
Try it on your instrument
Play C Am F G, then C Am7 Fmaj7 G7, and listen to the change. ChordRunner trains all of these: 7ths come after triads and sus chords in the levels, then 9ths and beyond, on guitar or piano through the microphone or a MIDI keyboard.
The levels in ChordRunner
- Beginner: major, minor, augmented and diminished chords.
- Intermediate: adds sus2 and sus4.
- Advanced: adds 6th, 7th and 9th chords.
- Pro: adds 11th, 13th and altered chords; an adaptive mode adds the next family when you are ready.
Common questions
When should I use 7th chords?
Dominant 7 on the chord before home (V7 to I), maj7 on I and IV for a soft colour, and m7 on the minor chords of the key.
What does the 7 mean on a chord?
A plain 7 means a dominant 7th, a note a whole step below the octave added to a major chord: G7 is G B D F.
Do 7th chords work on guitar for beginners?
Yes. A7, D7, E7, G7, C7 and B7 are open shapes close to chords you already know.
Which instruments work?
A USB MIDI keyboard, detected automatically, or a piano or guitar through the microphone. Everything runs in Chrome or Edge on a computer, tablet or phone.
How is this different from apps where you tap the screen?
Tapping trains your eyes and fingers on glass. Here you press real keys or fret real strings, and the game hears the actual notes, so what you practise is exactly what you will play on your instrument.
Is everything in the demo?
The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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