Piano chords · Major 7th chord
Amaj7 piano chord (A major seventh)
Amaj7 is a major seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds soft, dreamy and a little jazzy. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
A – C♯ – E – G♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Amaj7
Amaj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- A, the root
- C♯, the major third
- E, the fifth
- G♯, the major seventh
C♯ and G♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on A, 2 on C♯, 3 on E, 5 on G♯.
- Left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C♯, 2 on E, 1 on G♯.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | A – C♯ – E – G♯ |
| 1st inversion | C♯ – E – G♯ – A |
| 2nd inversion | E – G♯ – A – C♯ |
| 3rd inversion | G♯ – A – C♯ – E |
Where Amaj7 belongs
Amaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in A major and the IVmaj7 chord in E major. It's everywhere in jazz, soul, bossa nova and gentle pop.
Amaj7 is A with a major seventh, G♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. A7 has a minor seventh (G) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
Amaj7 – F♯m7 – Bm7 – E7: Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7, a smooth jazz and soul turnaround.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Amaj7 chord?
Amaj7 (A major seventh) is made of A, C♯, E and G♯: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play Amaj7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on A, 2 on C♯, 3 on E, 5 on G♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C♯, 2 on E, 1 on G♯.
How is Amaj7 different from the plain chord?
Amaj7 is A with a major seventh, G♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. A7 has a minor seventh (G) instead, and sounds bluesier.