Emaj7 Chord on Guitar
Notes E G♯ B D♯. Start with open Emaj7 (0 2 1 1 0 0): index across strings 4 and 3 at fret 1, ring finger on string 5 fret 2, all six strings ring.
Chord · Emaj7 major 7th
Open Emaj7 · 0 2 1 1 0 0
open strings
Dmaj7-shape, 4 strings (fret 2) · x x 2 4 4 4
movable, no open strings
Amaj7-shape (fret 7) · x 7 9 8 9 7
barre, movable
1 E3 G♯5 B7 D♯
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 4 to 3 at fret 1
- String 6 (low E): open
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 2
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 1
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 1
- String 2 (B): open
- String 1 (high e): open
- Barre: ring finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 4
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 4
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 4
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 4
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 7
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 7
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 9
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 8
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 7
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root |
| 3 | G♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th |
| 7 | D♯ | major 7th |
Formula 1 3 5 7 (major 7th).
Also written EM7, E major 7th.
More on this chord type: 7th chords explained
Capo shapes that sound as Emaj7
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Cmaj7 shape + capo 4
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Easier stand-in
E
When the major 7th is too soft for the melody, plain E keeps the same root, 3rd and 5th and needs no new fingering.
Keys that contain Emaj7
| Key | Emaj7 is the |
|---|---|
| E major | Imaj7 |
| B major | IVmaj7 |
| G♯ minor | VImaj7 |
| C♯ minor | IIImaj7 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Emaj7: what goes wrong
Emaj7 in E and B
Emaj7 is the Imaj7 chord of E major and the IVmaj7 of B major. In G♯ minor it is the VImaj7, in C♯ minor the IIImaj7.
Open E with one move
Open E is 0 2 2 1 0 0. For Emaj7 only string 4 changes, from fret 2 (E) to fret 1 (D♯), the major 7th. Because it sits one fret below the root, it sounds softer and more open than E7.
The 4-string shape
In x x 2 4 4 4 the index is on string 4 at fret 2 and the ring finger barres strings 3, 2 and 1 at fret 4. It is open Dmaj7 (x x 0 2 2 2) moved up two frets.
Related chords
Learn and practise Emaj7
- Metronomepractise the change to Emaj7 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Emaj7?
E, G♯, B, D♯: the 1, 3, 5, 7 of the Emaj7 major 7th chord.
What is the difference between E and Emaj7?
Emaj7 adds D♯, the major 7th: E, G♯, B, D♯. E7 adds D, the flat 7th, which is a different chord with a different pull.