A major 7 guitar chords
A - C# - E - G#
Chord Theory
A major 7 chords consist of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes of the A Major Scale.
- A Major Scale: A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G#
- Chord: A major seventh - written as Amaj7 or A∆7
- Formula: 1 - 3 - 5 - 7
- Notes: A - C# - E - G#
Amaj7 (A Δ 7 ) - A major seventh (1-3-5-7)
Spelling: 1st(A), 3rd(C#), 5th(E), 7th(G#)
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: number inside circle indicates which finger to useX: Don't play string
White Numbered Circles: Optional Notes
X on string with optional note: if you omit the note, don't play string
Unmarked strings: Play open
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings
R: Root Note
TAB: Numbers represent frets - not finger positions
Blank Strings: Do not Play
0: play string open
Written: x02120
Notes: x-A-E-G#-C#-E
Open chord shape: Amaj7
TAB e |-0-| B |-2-| G |-1-| D |-2-| A |-0-| E |---|
Written: x07654
Notes: x-A-A-C#-E-G#
Open chord shape: Gmaj7
TAB e |-4-| B |-5-| G |-6-| D |-7-| A |-0-| E |---|
Written: x(12)-12-11-9-9-9
Notes: x(E)-A-C#-E-G#-C#
Open chord shape:
TAB e |-9--| B |-9--| G |-9--| D |-11-| A |-12-| E |(12)|
Notes
In the 3rd position, the chord is written (x/12)-12-11-9-9-9, while the notes are written (x/E) - A - C# - E - G# - E. This simply takes into account the optional note, which is the number/letter after the forward slash (/). We also separate double digits with a hyphen so as not to create confusion, otherwise the chord above would be written (x/12)1211999, which is too confusing - which fret belongs to which string? etc.
maj7 chords are often used in jazz music and less in mainstream music, however when used cleverly, they can enhance a piece tremendously. The Amaj7 - 3rd position is a little difficult at first, but when you master it, what a sound!... if you can play it with the optional note, you are doing very well.
Standard keys using the Amaj7 chord: A Major, E Major, F#m, and C#m. Each of the minor keys is the relative minor of the major keys, i.e., A/F#m, E/C#m. If you are playing songs in any of these keys, you may come across an Amaj7 chord.
Practice: If you want to practice playing a song with Amaj7 chords, you may like to try some of the following:
- The A Team - Ed Sheeran
- Something - The Beatles
- The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
- There's A Kind Of Hush - Dami Im (Carpenters)
