Piano chords · Major 7th chord
Gmaj7 piano chord (G major seventh)
Gmaj7 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.
G – B – D – F♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Gmaj7
Gmaj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- G, the root
- B, the major third
- D, the fifth
- F♯, the major seventh
F♯ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on G, 2 on B, 3 on D, 5 on F♯.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B, 2 on D, 1 on F♯.
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 | G – B – D – F♯ |
| 1st inversion | B – D – F♯ – G |
| 2nd inversion | D – F♯ – G – B |
| 3rd inversion | F♯ – G – B – D |
Where Gmaj7 belongs
Gmaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in G major and the IVmaj7 chord in D major. It's everywhere in jazz, soul, bossa nova and gentle pop.
Gmaj7 is G with a major seventh, F♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. G7 has a minor seventh (F) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
Gmaj7 – Em7 – Am7 – D7: 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 Gmaj7 chord?
Gmaj7 (G major seventh) is made of G, B, D and F♯: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play Gmaj7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on G, 2 on B, 3 on D, 5 on F♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B, 2 on D, 1 on F♯.
How is Gmaj7 different from the plain chord?
Gmaj7 is G with a major seventh, F♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. G7 has a minor seventh (F) instead, and sounds bluesier.