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

Emaj7 chord, Open Emaj7E3B1D♯1G♯BE

Open Emaj7 · 0 2 1 1 0 0
open strings

1 E3 G♯5 B7 D♯

Voicing · 3 shapes, easiest first
Fingers, low to high
  • 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

Notes and formula

DegreeNoteInterval from E
1Eroot
3G♯major 3rd
5Bperfect 5th
7D♯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

Cmaj7 shape with capo 4×32

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

E shape231

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

KeyEmaj7 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

  • Emajor
  • Emminor
  • E7dominant 7th
  • Em7minor 7th
  • Esus4suspended 4th
  • E6major 6th
  • E9dominant 9th
  • E5power chord
  • Edimdiminished
  • AIV in E major
  • BV in E major

Learn and practise Emaj7

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.

All chords: the full chord directory