Major 7th chord · E root
Emaj7 chord
- E1
- G#3
- B5
- D#7
The E major 7th chord is built from the notes E, G#, B, D#. A major 7th shape you will meet in the first weeks of playing.
By Chiye · Updated
What is the Emaj7 chord?
The Emaj7 chord (E major 7th) is a major 7th chord built from four notes: E, G#, B, D# — the 1–3–5–7 of the E scale, 4 semitones and 7 semitones and 11 semitones above the root. On guitar it is most often played in open position (0-2-1-1-0-0) with 3 fretted strings while 3 strings ring open. It is rated beginner — most players learn it in their first weeks. A soft, jazzy chord heard all over neo-soul and bossa. Below you will find step-by-step fingering, 3 positions up the neck, audio of every shape, and the real progressions this chord lives inside.
How do you play the Emaj7 chord on guitar?
Open position — the easiest version of Emaj7 on the guitar.
- Press the A string at fret 2 with your middle finger.
- Press the D string at fret 1 with your index finger.
- Press the G string at fret 1 with your index finger.
- Strum all six strings and let every one ring.
If it buzzes, the usual cause is a fingertip sitting in the middle of the fret space instead of just behind the wire. Move the whole hand a few millimetres toward the bridge and the buzz usually disappears without any extra pressure. 0-2-1-1-0-0
How do you make Emaj7 sound clean?
Emaj7 needs the index on the 1st fret across two adjacent strings while the middle sits two frets up on the fifth. Players squeeze the neck to hold it and choke the open low E, which is the root.
E → Emaj7 → E7: the fourth string walks E → D# → D and nothing else moves. That single line is the difference between tonic, major seventh and dominant.
In real songs
Emaj7 in songs
None of the 90 songs charted on this site use Emaj7 yet — it is a colour chord rather than a songwriting staple.
What other ways can you play Emaj7 up the neck?
2 more positions below. Learn one of these well and the rest become optional. The value of a second position is practical: it keeps your fretting hand near where the song is already heading.
Position 2 · Fret 2 barre
Every note here is fretted, which means the shape transposes anywhere on the neck without changing your fingers.
The barre is the only hard part of this shape. Keep the bar finger straight and use the weight of your arm rather than the grip of your thumb.
Position 3 · Fret 7 barre
No open strings, so this is a movable shape: slide it up or down and the same fingering gives you a different chord name.
One bar does most of the work. Roll that finger onto its bony edge and pull the elbow slightly in — a barre that buzzes is almost always a position problem, not a strength problem.
The theory behind Emaj7
Emaj7 is spelled E – G# – B – D# — the 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 of the E scale, which is the root plus 4 semitones, 7 semitones, 11 semitones. A soft, jazzy chord heard all over neo-soul and bossa.
The major seventh sits a semitone under the octave, which is why it sounds soft rather than tense. On guitar it is usually the highest fretted note, so it is also the first note to disappear if your finger rolls off.
Emaj7 on other instruments
E – G# – B – D# — the highlighted black keys are the sharps or flats; play each note once, then move them into one hand position.
Take it to the practice room
