E major seventh chord (Emaj7)
The E major seventh chord (Emaj7) is a major seventh chord: a major triad with a major seventh on top, E, G♯, B and D♯ (root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh).
It is the Imaj7 in E major and the IVmaj7 in B major; its relative is C♯ minor seventh, and B dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play E 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: 0-2-1-1-0-0, barre at fret 1, with E in the bass (fingers 0-2-1-1-0-0).
- Voicing 2: 12-14-13-13-12-12, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 12, with E in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-7-9-8-9-7, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 7, with E in the bass.
Notes of the E major seventh chord on the fretboard
E major seventh has 4 notes: E, G♯, B and D♯. 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) · B (7) · D♯ (11) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · D♯ (6) · E (7) · G♯ (11)
- String 4 (D): D♯ (1) · E (2) · G♯ (6) · B (9)
- String 3 (G): G♯ (1) · B (4) · D♯ (8) · E (9)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · D♯ (4) · E (5) · G♯ (9) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · G♯ (4) · B (7) · D♯ (11) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of E major seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-11.
- E: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- G♯: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above E
- B: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above E
- D♯: Major seventh (M7), 11 semitones above E
E major seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 1-3-0-2; it sounds G♯, D♯, E and B.
E major seventh on piano
- Keys: E4, G♯4, B4 and D♯5.
Inversions of E major seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: E, G♯, B and D♯, with E in the bass.
- First inversion (Emaj7/G♯): G♯, B, D♯ and E, with G♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Emaj7/B): B, D♯, E and G♯, with B in the bass.
- Third inversion (Emaj7/D♯): D♯, E, G♯ and B, with D♯ in the bass.
Keys that use E major seventh
E major seventh appears in 4 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| E major (4 sharps) | Imaj7 | Tonic |
| B major (5 sharps) | IVmaj7 | Subdominant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | IIImaj7 | Mediant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | VImaj7 | Submediant |
Progressions with E major seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in E major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): F♯m7 – B7 – Emaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E major seventh chord?
E, G♯, B and D♯: root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-7.
Which keys use E major seventh?
Mainly as the Imaj7 in E major and the IVmaj7 in B major. In total it appears in 4 major and minor keys.
What is the difference between E major seventh and a dominant seventh chord?
The seventh: in E major seventh (E, G♯, B and D♯) it is major, a half step below the octave, while in a dominant seventh it is minor. That is why E major seventh sounds stable, like a chord of rest, and a dominant seventh wants to resolve.