Music Theory. A question about seventh chords?

Question

when you are doing a a harmonic analysis of a piece in 4/4 times, say g minor, and on the first beat you have a C chord (C-bass, E-tenor, g-alto, c-soprano which would be a c minor chord) and an B-flat eight note beamed to the right in the bass, would i considered the B-flat a non harmonic tone or considered it the seventh note of a C chord CEGB instead of C-minor????

Answer 1

Good question. I'll give you a few things to consider when making this decision:



1. Does the Bb behave like a 7th? 7ths almost always resolve down by step. Does Bb go to some kind of A?



2. What is the harmonic rhythm? You make a point of this in your question. If you believe the harmonic rhythm (rate of chord change) is a quarter note, then worrying about the 8th might be too fussy.



3. Historically, 7ths were first considered non-chord tones before they were considered parts of a chord (before there was a concept of a 7th chord). This is why 7ths are treated so carefully by common-practice composers.



The point--there is some ambiguity in identifying them. 7ths can often be viewed either way: non-chord tone or 7th of a chord.



4. What is the harmonic context? Does the Cm7 function as a iv7 in g minor (that is the context you gave), either as a subdominant chord moving to a dominant (D major) or as part of the circle of fifths.



My guess is that this is likely a non-chord tone, but you have to weigh the context when making your decision--and, there may be more than one correct answer.

Answer 2

both of the previous answers are correct...but the first answer is most accurate. it's a minor 7th chord if its the e-flat. The B-flat is a passing tone if it goes down to A, however...since the Eflat-G-C in Tenor alto and Sap. are quarter notes they would still be sounding, so at that specific point in time, you would hear a Cminor 7th chord! (Roman Numeral---> iv 4/2 ...{4/2 inverion since the bass has the 7th of the chord}



if it is E natural...then is a secondary dominant ( V4/2 of V) {4/2 inversion because the 7th (Bflat) is in the bass}

Answer 3

Actually, the chord you listed would be a C major, dominant seven chord. The B flat would be the dominant seventh, the E natural would be the major third, supplying the tonality of the chord. This would suggest that the song was written in G melodic Minor, since the E and F would be raised going up (to E natural and F sharp) and then lowered going down (E flat and F natural)



A C minor seven chord would be spelled, C, E flat, G, and B flat.

Answer 4

You didn't specify the next chord so I'm not sure if the B flat note is a harmony or non-harmony note to the C minor chord you're talking about. If the B flat is not a decorative note (such as passing note) then the chord is iv7 of G minor. But if the B flat is a passing note, then the chord is just a normal iv.

Answer 5

It could be one of three things:



g: iv764 (numbers vertical) -- note that this is very unusual



or



g: vii7/V7 (2nd inversion) -- this is pretty odd too unless you are studying modulations



or



Does the Bb move down to an A? If so, then it is a passing tone from C to A. This is the most logical..however if you are studying 20th Century music, the first two could be possible!

Answer 6

It would be a Minor 7th: (C, Eb, G, Bb) or Major 7th if it's an E natural.