Emaj7

What Is This Chord?

The major seventh chord adds a major seventh interval (11 semitones) above the root to a major triad. Emaj7 uses the notes E, Ab, B, Eb. The major seventh (Eb) creates a gentle tension with the root — close enough to sound warm but far enough to feel sophisticated. The interval between the major seventh and the root (just one semitone away) gives the chord its characteristic "floating" quality. In functional harmony, the major seventh chord serves as the tonic (I) or subdominant (IV) chord, both of which provide a sense of rest or lift without the finality of a plain triad.

How It Is Built

Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7

Musical Meaning

Major chords are the bright foundation of Western harmony — stable, resolved, and immediately recognizable. Their structure (root, major third, perfect fifth) creates a sound that feels complete and confident, like a musical declaration of "yes."

Sounds Like This

🌿 Other bright sounds to explore

Practice Tips

For a classic jazz voicing, try root–third–seventh (omitting the fifth). On piano, left hand plays the root and right hand plays third–fifth–seventh. For a fuller sound, add the 9th above the major seventh for a maj9 extension. The major seventh creates a half-step dissonance with the octave root — keep it voiced apart for clarity.

Practical Uses

• Tonic substitution in pop, neo-soul, and jazz progressions
• IV chord in contemporary worship and gospel (Imaj7)
• Smooth pivot chord when moving to IV or ii chords
• Final resting chord when you want resolution without harshness

Common Progressions

In Harmonic Context

In the key of E major, Emaj7 is the I chord — the tonic and point of rest. It also appears as the IV chord in B major and as the V chord in A major, where it drives forward toward resolution.

Related Chords

Related Scales

Scales that naturally contain the Emaj7 chord:

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