Piano chords · Major 7th chord
F♯maj7 piano chord (F♯ major seventh)
F♯maj7 (also written G♭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.
F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of F♯maj7
F♯maj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- F♯, the root
- A♯, the major third
- C♯, the fifth
- E♯, the major seventh
F♯ and A♯ and C♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching. E♯ is played on the key F; it's written E♯ so that every letter is used once.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on F♯, 2 on A♯, 3 on C♯, 5 on E♯.
- Left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A♯, 2 on C♯, 1 on E♯.
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 | F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯ |
| 1st inversion | A♯ – C♯ – E♯ – F♯ |
| 2nd inversion | C♯ – E♯ – F♯ – A♯ |
| 3rd inversion | E♯ – F♯ – A♯ – C♯ |
Where F♯maj7 belongs
F♯maj7 is the Imaj7 chord in F♯ major and the IVmaj7 chord in C♯ major. It's everywhere in jazz, soul, bossa nova and gentle pop.
F♯maj7 is F♯ with a major seventh, E♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. F♯7 has a minor seventh (E) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
F♯maj7 – D♯m7 – G♯m7 – C♯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 F♯maj7 chord?
F♯maj7 (F♯ major seventh) is made of F♯, A♯, C♯ and E♯: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play F♯maj7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on F♯, 2 on A♯, 3 on C♯, 5 on E♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A♯, 2 on C♯, 1 on E♯.
How is F♯maj7 different from the plain chord?
F♯maj7 is F♯ with a major seventh, E♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. F♯7 has a minor seventh (E) instead, and sounds bluesier.