Chord · 1 3 5 7
Major seventh chord
A major seventh chord stacks a major third, a minor third, then another major third. In C it is C, E, G and B. Written Cmaj7, CM7 or CΔ7.
- Formula
- 1 3 5 7
- Half steps from root
- 0 · 4 · 7 · 11
- Notes
- 4
How it sounds
Soft and lush: a major chord with the note a half step below the octave added. Common in jazz ballads, bossa nova and soft rock.
What’s inside
- 3: major third above the root
- 5: perfect fifth above the root
- 7: major seventh above the root
On the guitar
Cmaj7 · x32000
Low E string to high E. An × means don’t play that string, an o means play it open.
Major seventh chords in every key
| Chord | Notes | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Cmaj7 | C · E · G · B | |
| D♭maj7 | D♭ · F · A♭ · C | |
| Dmaj7 | D · F♯ · A · C♯ | |
| E♭maj7 | E♭ · G · B♭ · D | |
| Emaj7 | E · G♯ · B · D♯ | |
| Fmaj7 | F · A · C · E | |
| G♭maj7 | G♭ · B♭ · D♭ · F | |
| Gmaj7 | G · B · D · F♯ | |
| A♭maj7 | A♭ · C · E♭ · G | |
| Amaj7 | A · C♯ · E · G♯ | |
| B♭maj7 | B♭ · D · F · A | |
| Bmaj7 | B · D♯ · F♯ · A♯ |
This chord is one of the answers in the game’s “Which seventh?” round.