Piano chord
Emaj7E major seventh
- E1
- G♯3
- B5
- D♯7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 11semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Emaj7 on piano
- Find E: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on E, 2 on G♯, 3 on B, 5 on D♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on E, 3 on G♯, 2 on B, 1 on D♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · E – G♯ – B – D♯
1st inversion · G♯ – B – D♯ – E
2nd inversion · B – D♯ – E – G♯
3rd inversion · D♯ – E – G♯ – B
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Emaj7 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of Emaj7. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has E at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: ERight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: BRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: D♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with Emaj7
The other chords of E major, the key where Emaj7 is home (Imaj7). Songs in this key move between them.
Emaj7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays E an octave lower, the right hand plays E–G♯–B–D♯.
Emaj7 on other instruments
About the Emaj7 chord
The 4 notes of E major seventh are E (1), G♯ (3), B (5), D♯ (7). A major seventh: a major triad with the natural seventh, one semitone below the octave. It sounds smooth and dreamy, common in jazz, soul and bossa nova.
Put your thumb on E and count up: E – G♯ – B – D♯. The whole chord spans 11 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers Emaj7 without stretching.
The inversions of Emaj7 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B–D♯–E). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B (B–D♯–E–G♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D♯ (D♯–E–G♯–B).
Add D♯ to E and you have Emaj7.
Emaj7 belongs to E major (Imaj7), B major (IVmaj7), C sharp minor (IIImaj7), G sharp minor (VImaj7).
Questions
What notes are in the Emaj7 chord?
Emaj7 (E major seventh) has 4 notes: E (1), G♯ (3), B (5), D♯ (7).
How many inversions does Emaj7 have?
Emaj7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (E–G♯–B–D♯); 1st inversion (G♯–B–D♯–E); 2nd inversion (B–D♯–E–G♯); 3rd inversion (D♯–E–G♯–B).
What is the difference between Emaj7 and E?
Add D♯ to E and you have Emaj7.
Can I play Emaj7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Emaj7 spans 11 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.