Which seventh chord is built on the dominant with a minor seventh above the root?

• A. Minor Seventh Chord
• B. Major Seventh Chord
• C. Half-Diminished Seventh Chord
• D. Dominant Seventh Chord

Answer: (D)

A seventh chord built on the dominant with a minor seventh above the root is a dominant seventh chord. This chord uses a major triad on the dominant scale degree plus a seventh that is a minor seventh above the root, creating a characteristic tension that resolves strongly to the tonic. For example, in C major, the dominant is G; G major triad is G–B–D and adding a minor seventh above G gives F, making G7 (G–B–D–F). The interval from the root to the seventh is a minor seventh (10 semitones). This combination distinguishes it from other sevenths: a minor seventh chord has a minor triad plus a minor seventh, a major seventh chord has a major triad plus a major seventh, and a half-diminished seventh has a diminished triad plus a minor seventh.