Amaj7 Piano Chord

Amaj7 is the A major seventh chord. It has four notes: A, C sharp, E and G sharp. The second and the top note are black keys.

1A2C♯3E5G♯C3C4

A at the bottom, then C♯ and E and G♯. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. The black keys are C♯ and G♯.

How to play Amaj7 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the A below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): A
  3. Index finger (2): C♯
  4. Middle finger (3): E
  5. Little finger (5): G♯
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just A on its own as a bass note.

The G sharp on top sits one key below the A above it. Playing the two together, then apart, is the quickest way to hear what a major seventh actually is.

Inversions of Amaj7

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Amaj7; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionC♯ E G♯ A
Amaj7 piano chord diagram, first inversion, C♯ E G♯ A
Lighter than root position and less final. A third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionE G♯ A C♯
Amaj7 piano chord diagram, second inversion, E G♯ A C♯
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.
Third inversionG♯ A C♯ E
Amaj7 piano chord diagram, third inversion, G♯ A C♯ E
The most restless of the four. The seventh is the note that wants to move, and putting it underneath the whole chord makes that pull impossible to miss.

If it sounds wrong

The top note is G natural
That gives A7, a blues chord that pulls toward D. Amaj7 needs G sharp, the black key to its right.
The chord sounds sad
The second note is C sharp, the black key. C natural would give Am7.
The little finger is buried
It sits on a black key at the top of the chord. Let the hand lean outward rather than pressing harder with the weakest finger.

What makes it an Amaj7

A · C♯ · E · G♯ 1 3 5 7

Amaj7 is an A major triad, A C sharp E, with a G sharp added: the major seventh.

It is the I chord of A major and the IV of E. Both are guitar keys, so this chord is common in pop and rock even though its key signature has three sharps.

Amaj7 vs A7

The top note. Amaj7 has G sharp and rests; A7 has G natural and pulls toward D.

In blues, A7 is the chord you want. In a ballad, Amaj7 is: it says the same harmonic thing without any of the urgency.

Questions about Amaj7

Which notes are in an Amaj7 chord on piano?

A, C sharp, E and G sharp. C sharp and G sharp are black keys; A and E are white.

What fingers do you use for Amaj7?

Right hand: thumb on A, index on C sharp, middle on E, little finger on G sharp. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between Amaj7 and A7?

The top note. Amaj7 has G sharp and sounds calm; A7 has G natural and sounds bluesy and unfinished.

Is Amaj7 hard on piano?

No. Two black keys under the second and little fingers, and a comfortable span.

Where is the Amaj7 chord used?

As the I chord in A and the IV in E. It is common in soul, bossa nova and ballads.

Chords to learn next

Other A chords