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In music theory, a nondominant seventh chord is both a diatonic chord and a seventh chord, but it does not possess dominant function, and thus it is not a dominant seventh chord.

Since the V and vii chords are the dominant function chords, the "major minor seventh" V and "half-diminished seventh" vii are the dominant seventh chords. Since the nondominant function chords are I, i, ii, ii, iii, III, IV, iv, vi, and VI, the nondominant seventh chord qualities include the augmented major seventh chord, major seventh chord, minor major seventh chord, minor seventh chord, and major minor seventh chords that do not possess dominant function, such as, in melodic minor, IV
_m.

To analyze seventh chords indicate the quality of the triad; major: I, minor: ii, half-diminished: vii, or augmented: III+; and the quality of the seventh; same: , or different:
_M or
_m. With chord letters used to indicate the root and chord quality, and add , thus a seventh chord on ii in C major (minor minor seventh) would be d.

As with dominant seventh chords, nondominant seventh chords often resolve by stepwise progression around the circle of fifths—that is, by intervals of a descending fifth (clockwise) or ascending fourth (counter-clockwise). In the following example, III+
_M resolves to vi or VI. (see: circle progression)

Root motion through these perfect intervals is already compelling, but becomes even more so with seventh chords, because it naturally produces the smoothest continuous voice leading, swapping the voices of the third and seventh function in lockstep. The seventh of nondominant seventh chords moves down by step to the third of the following chord.

See also

• Irregular resolution
• Diminished seventh chord (vii in harmonic minor)
• Dominant ninth, etc.
• Dominant seventh flat five chord (V)

References

1. ^ Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p.230. Seventh Edition. ISBN 978-0-07-294262-0.
2. ^ Benward & Saker (2003), p.229.
3. ^ Benward & Saker (2003), p.233-34.
4. ^ Benward & Saker (2003), p.232.

v t e Chords
By form	Triad Major Minor Augmented Diminished Suspended Seventh Leading-tone Major Minor Dominant Dominant seventh flat five Diminished Half-diminished Diminished major Minor-major Augmented major Augmented minor Altered seventh Nondominant Harmonic seventh Extended Ninth Eleventh Thirteenth Upper structure Dominant 7♯9 Polychord Tone cluster Added / omitted Sixth Augmented sixth Lydian Seven six Specific Alpha Bridge Complexe sonore Dream Elektra Farben Grandmother Magic Mystic Northern lights Petrushka Psalms So What Tristan Viennese trichord General Mixed interval Secundal Tertian Quartal Synthetic chord Tetrad
By function	Diatonic Tonic Supertonic Mediant Subdominant Dominant Submediant Leading tone / Subtonic Altered Approach Borrowed Chromatic mediant Neapolitan Passing Secondary Secondary dominant Secondary leading-tone Secondary supertonic Other Common Contrast Primary triad Subsidiary Substitute
Techniques	Barre Block Chordioid Chord-scale system Guitar Open Power Slash
Other	Arpeggio Chord names and symbols List of chords Factor

• Seventh chords