Major 7 Chord

The major 7 chord is simply the major chord with the 7th note of the major scale added.

Let’s use the C major chord to show this:

C Major

C Major 7

Major 7 Chord Formula:

A major 7 chord is made up of notes based on the intervals of the major scale.

The major 7 chord formula is 1-3-5-6 (i.e. the Root, 3rd5th and 7th notes of the major scale).

Inversions:

An inversion is simply a way of identifying when the notes of a chord have been ‘inverted’ i.e. when the root (1st) note of the chord is not in the lowest (bass) position. 

The C major 7 chord consists of 4 notes, C, E, G, B (1st3rd5th7th).

When the lowest note of the chord is C (1st) then it is in the ‘root position‘.

When the note E (3rd) is in the lowest position then the chord is known as a ‘1st inversion‘.

When the note G (5th) is in the lowest position then the chord is known as a ‘2nd inversion‘.

When the note B (7th) is in the lowest position then the chord is known as a ‘3rd inversion‘.

The inversion is determined only by the note in the lowest (bass) position, it does not matter what order the other notes are in.

You can use MusicWheels™ to discover all the other major 7 chords.

Guitar Diagrams

Major 7 Chords - CAGED - Across the Fretboard

The diagrams below show the generic CAGED shapes for major 7 chords.

The red note is the root note of the chord, for example:

– if you wish to play the A major chord then the red root note will be the note of A

– if you wish to play the D major chord then the red root note will be the note of D and so on.

Keyboard Diagrams