Piano chords · Major 7th chord
Emaj7 piano chord (E major seventh)
Emaj7 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 Emaj7
Emaj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- E, the root
- G♯, the major third
- B, the fifth
- D♯, the major seventh
G♯ and D♯ 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 Emaj7 belongs
Emaj7 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.
Emaj7 is E with a major seventh, D♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. E7 has a minor seventh (D) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
Emaj7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7: 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 Emaj7 chord?
Emaj7 (E major seventh) is made of E, G♯, B and D♯: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play Emaj7 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 Emaj7 different from the plain chord?
Emaj7 is E with a major seventh, D♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. E7 has a minor seventh (D) instead, and sounds bluesier.