Minor 7 vs Dominant 7
The C minor 7 and the C dominant 7 share 3 notes — C, G, Bb. From there, the C minor 7 adds Eb, while the C dominant 7 adds E.
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (3), fret 3 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7), fret 6 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 8 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7), fret 11 Eb (flat 3), fret 12 E (3), fret 15 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7), fret 18 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 20 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7), fret 23 Eb (flat 3), fret 24 E (3).
- A string: fret 1 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 3 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7), fret 6 Eb (flat 3), fret 7 E (3), fret 10 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7), fret 13 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 15 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7), fret 18 Eb (flat 3), fret 19 E (3), fret 22 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7).
- D string: fret 1 Eb (flat 3), fret 2 E (3), fret 5 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7), fret 8 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 10 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7), fret 13 Eb (flat 3), fret 14 E (3), fret 17 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7), fret 20 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 22 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7).
- G string: fret 0 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7), fret 3 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 5 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7), fret 8 Eb (flat 3), fret 9 E (3), fret 12 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7), fret 15 Bb (flat 7 of C Minor 7 and flat 7 of C Dominant 7), fret 17 C (root of C Minor 7 and root of C Dominant 7), fret 20 Eb (flat 3), fret 21 E (3), fret 24 G (5 of C Minor 7 and 5 of C Dominant 7).
Both scales above are drawn on one bass fretboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Minor 7 | R · b3 · 5 · b7 |
| Dominant 7 | R · 3 · 5 · b7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Minor 7 | In Dominant 7 |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| Bb | b7 | b7 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the minor 7: Eb (b3)
- Only in the dominant 7: E (3)