Piano chords · Major 7th chord
E♭maj7 piano chord (E♭ major seventh)
E♭maj7 (also written D♯maj7) 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.
E♭ – G – B♭ – D · tap any key to hear it
The notes of E♭maj7
E♭maj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- E♭, the root
- G, the major third
- B♭, the fifth
- D, the major seventh
E♭ and B♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on E♭, 2 on G, 3 on B♭, 5 on D.
- Left hand: 5 on E♭, 3 on G, 2 on B♭, 1 on D.
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 | E♭ – G – B♭ – D |
| 1st inversion | G – B♭ – D – E♭ |
| 2nd inversion | B♭ – D – E♭ – G |
| 3rd inversion | D – E♭ – G – B♭ |
Where E♭maj7 belongs
E♭maj7 is the Imaj7 chord in E♭ major and the IVmaj7 chord in B♭ major. It's everywhere in jazz, soul, bossa nova and gentle pop.
E♭maj7 is E♭ with a major seventh, D, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. E♭7 has a minor seventh (D♭) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
E♭maj7 – Cm7 – Fm7 – B♭7: 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 E♭maj7 chord?
E♭maj7 (E♭ major seventh) is made of E♭, G, B♭ and D: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play E♭maj7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on E♭, 2 on G, 3 on B♭, 5 on D, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on E♭, 3 on G, 2 on B♭, 1 on D.
How is E♭maj7 different from the plain chord?
E♭maj7 is E♭ with a major seventh, D, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. E♭7 has a minor seventh (D♭) instead, and sounds bluesier.