C Minor/Major 7th

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About

The C minor/major 7 (C–E♭–G–B) combines a minor triad with a major seventh. The clash between the E♭ and B creates the distinctive, unresolved tension — both tones pull in different directions harmonically. Its most common functional use is as a passing chord in a descending bass line over a minor tonic: Cm → CmMaj7 → Cm7 → Cm6, where the upper structure stays largely static while the bass walks down by half steps. This voice-leading use, more than chord-to-chord function, is how it typically earns its place — also known as the "James Bond chord". The B is the essential tone defining it. Compared to Cm7, the raised seventh sharpens the tension considerably.