Emaj7 Piano Chord

Emaj7 is the E major seventh chord. It has four notes: E, G sharp, B and D sharp. The second and the top note are black keys.

Emaj7 piano chord diagram, root position, E G♯ B D♯

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

How to play Emaj7 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the E above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): E
  3. Index finger (2): G♯
  4. Middle finger (3): B
  5. Little finger (5): D♯
  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 E on its own as a bass note.

The D sharp on top sits a half step under the E above it. That near miss is what a major seventh is, and it is worth playing the two notes on their own to hear it.

Inversions of Emaj7

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Emaj7; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionG♯ B D♯ E
Emaj7 piano chord diagram, first inversion, G♯ B D♯ E
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 inversionB D♯ E G♯
Emaj7 piano chord diagram, second inversion, B D♯ E G♯
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 inversionD♯ E G♯ B
Emaj7 piano chord diagram, third inversion, D♯ E G♯ B
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 D natural
That gives E7, which pulls toward A. Emaj7 needs D sharp, the black key to its right.
The chord sounds sad
The second note is G sharp, the black key. G natural would give Em7.
The hand keeps shifting
Black keys under fingers 2 and 5 with white keys between means the hand wants to move in and out. Settle it at a middle depth.

What makes it an Emaj7

E · G♯ · B · D♯ 1 3 5 7

Emaj7 is an E major triad, E G sharp B, with a D sharp added: the major seventh.

It is the I chord of E major and the IV of B. E is the home key of a great deal of guitar music, so this is the softest sounding version of a chord pianists meet all the time.

Emaj7 vs E7

The top note. Emaj7 has D sharp and rests; E7 has D natural and pulls toward A.

In blues in E, E7 is home and Emaj7 would sound wrong. In a soul ballad in E, the opposite is true.

Emaj7 in major keys

Every note of Emaj7 sits inside these keys. See how it works alongside the other chords in each one.

Questions about Emaj7

Which notes are in an Emaj7 chord on piano?

E, G sharp, B and D sharp. G sharp and D sharp are black keys; E and B are white.

What fingers do you use for Emaj7?

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

What is the difference between Emaj7 and E7?

The top note. Emaj7 has D sharp and sits still; E7 has D natural and drives toward A.

Is Emaj7 hard to play?

No. Two black keys and a comfortable span of a seventh.

Where is the Emaj7 chord used?

As the I chord in E and the IV in B. Soul, bossa nova and ballads use it constantly.

Chords to learn next

Other E chords