Chords reference
Major Seventh Chord
A major seventh chord is a four-note chord containing a major triad and a major seventh above its root.
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C Major 7 Chord
- Theory
- Chord
- Written root
- C
- Instrument
- 6-string Guitar
- Tuning
- E Standard
- Labels
- Notes
- Handedness
- Right handed
| String, low to high | Fret | Current label | Note | Degree | Interval | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 2 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 3 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 7 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 10 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 14 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 15 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 19 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 22 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 2 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 5 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 9 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 10 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 14 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 17 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 21 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 22 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 0 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 4 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 5 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 9 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 12 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 16 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 17 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 21 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 24 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 0 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 1 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 5 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 8 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 12 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 13 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 17 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 20 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 24 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
Overview
Adding a major seventh extends the major triad without changing its underlying major quality. The new note lies a semitone below the octave root, creating colour and tension within an otherwise stable chord.
Construction
The authoritative definition combines a major triad with a major seventh. The interval between the seventh and an octave-equivalent root is a semitone, so voicing determines whether that close relationship is exposed or spread apart.
Characteristics
Major seventh chords can sound settled yet coloured, especially when functioning as a tonic. Their major seventh distinguishes them clearly from the minor seventh contained in dominant seventh chords.
Applications
The chord appears in major-key tonic and subdominant regions, modal harmony, sustained sonorities, arpeggios, and voice-leading studies. Comparing voicings reveals how spacing changes the prominence of its semitone tension.