We've made a new Spotify Playlist this week! This time we take a look at the major seventh and teach you how to identify it by ear.
This week we listen to some songs with the major seventh interval in mind. These are songs with the ascending, melodic major seventh interval in them. In this article we will briefly explain where you can hear the major seventh in the songs.
It is hard to find songs with a straight major seventh interval in them, because it sounds a bit dissonant. We did our best to present you with some new interval songs which you probably don’t know yet.
Norah Jones - Don’t know why
The first two notes of the verse form a major seventh: **I waited** ‘til I saw the sun.
a-ha - Take on Me
You can hear the major seventh interval in the chorus when they sing **Take on** me for the first time.
Gene Wilder - Pure Imagination
This song starts with a long introduction. Afterwards you’ll hear the major seventh: Come with me and you'll be in **a world** of pure imagination.
Chet Baker - There Will Never Be Another You
The major seventh interval is hard to find in popular music. It is a bit easier if you get into jazz music. This jazz classic contains a major seventh interval: Yes, I may dream a million dreams, but how can they **come true**.
Nada Surf - Popular
You can hear the major seventh interval in the guitar part through the whole song.
Superman Theme
Listen to the two jumps at 0:52 and hear the dissonance of a major seventh interval. It sounds a bit strange, right?
Ella Fitzgerald - Misty
Ella Fitzgerald is known to sing beautiful, but complicated melodies. In this song you can hear the major seventh interval when she sings: Look at me, I'm as **help-less** as a kitten up a tree.
Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow
The song starts with: **Somewhere o**-ver the rainbow, way up high. Some-where forms an octave, but afterwards the melody descends to a major seventh. So if you combine the first (Some) and third (O) note you can hear a major seventh interval.
Chet Baker - The Song is You
The second time Chet sings **I-Alone** in the bridge, you hear a major seventh.
Andrea Bocelli - Time to Say Goodbye
This follows the same pattern as Over the Rainbow. In the chorus Andrea Bocelli sings:
Paesi che non ho **mai, Ve-du**to e vissuto con te
Mai to ve is a octave, after which the melody descends into a major seventh at du. So if you combine the first and third note you hear a major seventh interval.
After listening to the playlist, you can also read about [what a major seventh is](https://sonid.app/musictheory/interval/major-seventh) or watch our [major seventh explanation video](https://sonid.app/post/learn-music-theory-with-sonid-part-11-major-seventh).