A major seventh chord (Amaj7)
The A major seventh chord (Amaj7) is a major seventh chord: a major triad with a major seventh on top, A, C♯, E and G♯ (root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh).
It is the Imaj7 in A major and the IVmaj7 in E major; its relative is F♯ minor seventh, and E dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play A major seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-0-2-1-2-0, open position, with A in the bass (fingers x-0-2-1-3-0).
- Voicing 2: 5-7-6-6-5-5, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 5, with A in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-12-14-13-14-12, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 12, with A in the bass.
Notes of the A major seventh chord on the fretboard
A major seventh has 4 notes: A, C♯, E and G♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E (0) · G♯ (4) · A (5) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C♯ (4) · E (7) · G♯ (11) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · G♯ (6) · A (7) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): G♯ (1) · A (2) · C♯ (6) · E (9)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · E (5) · G♯ (9) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · G♯ (4) · A (5) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of A major seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-11.
- A: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- C♯: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above A
- E: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above A
- G♯: Major seventh (M7), 11 semitones above A
A major seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 1-1-0-0; it sounds G♯, C♯, E and A.
A major seventh on piano
- Keys: A4, C♯5, E5 and G♯5.
Inversions of A major seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: A, C♯, E and G♯, with A in the bass.
- First inversion (Amaj7/C♯): C♯, E, G♯ and A, with C♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Amaj7/E): E, G♯, A and C♯, with E in the bass.
- Third inversion (Amaj7/G♯): G♯, A, C♯ and E, with G♯ in the bass.
Keys that use A major seventh
A major seventh appears in 4 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| A major (3 sharps) | Imaj7 | Tonic |
| E major (4 sharps) | IVmaj7 | Subdominant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | IIImaj7 | Mediant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | VImaj7 | Submediant |
Progressions with A major seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in A major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A major seventh chord?
A, C♯, E and G♯: root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-7.
Which keys use A major seventh?
Mainly as the Imaj7 in A major and the IVmaj7 in E major. In total it appears in 4 major and minor keys.
What is the difference between A major seventh and a dominant seventh chord?
The seventh: in A major seventh (A, C♯, E and G♯) it is major, a half step below the octave, while in a dominant seventh it is minor. That is why A major seventh sounds stable, like a chord of rest, and a dominant seventh wants to resolve.