Chord II7 (Supertonic 7th)

Last Updated on 24 August 2023 by Victoria Williams

Chord ii7 is also known as the supertonic 7^th chord. It’s built from the supertonic triad, plus another third added on top: the 2^nd, 4^th, 7^th and 1^st notes of the scale.

In C major, the supertonic 7^th chord contains the notes D, F, A and C.

In major keys, the supertonic 7^th is a minor triad, plus a minor 7^th above the root note. It is written as ii7.

In minor keys, the supertonic 7^th is normally built from the harmonic minor scale. It is a diminished triad, plus a minor 7^th and is written as ii°7.

In A minor, the supertonic 7^th chord contains the notes B, D, F and A.

The supertonic 7^th is frequently seen just before a perfect cadence, or before a cadential 6/4, for example in this Bach Chorale (no.95), in Bb major. Here, ii7 is C-Eb-G-Bb, it is used in first inversion here (which is very common, as the bass (lowest part) rises by step to Va or Ic).

In this G minor chorale (no.100), chord ii°7 is A-C-Eb-G. The progression is the same as in the previous example.