Gmaj7 Piano Chord

Gmaj7 is the G major seventh chord. It has four notes: G, B, D and F sharp. The first three are a G major chord; the F sharp on top is the major seventh.

1G2B3D5F♯C3C4

G at the bottom, then B and D and F♯. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. The black key is F♯.

How to play Gmaj7 on piano, step by step

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

Play G major, then reach the little finger to the black key just below the G above. That is the whole chord, and the change in mood is immediate.

Inversions of Gmaj7

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Gmaj7; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionB D F♯ G
Gmaj7 piano chord diagram, first inversion, B D F♯ G
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 inversionD F♯ G B
Gmaj7 piano chord diagram, second inversion, D F♯ G B
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 inversionF♯ G B D
Gmaj7 piano chord diagram, third inversion, F♯ G B D
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 F natural
That gives G7, which pulls hard toward C. Gmaj7 needs F sharp, the black key to its right.
The little finger cannot reach the black key
It has to travel further into the keyboard than the other fingers. Bring the whole hand forward instead of stretching.
The chord sounds thick
Root position Gmaj7 sits below middle C, where the half step at the top blurs. Use the first inversion to lift it.

What makes it a Gmaj7

G · B · D · F♯ 1 3 5 7

Gmaj7 is a G major triad, G B D, with an F sharp added: the major seventh, one half step below the G above it.

It is the I chord of G major and the IV of D. Both are common keys, so this is one of the major sevenths a player meets earliest.

Gmaj7 vs G7

One key apart and opposite in job. Gmaj7 has F sharp and sits still; G7 has F natural and pulls toward C.

In the key of G, Gmaj7 is home. In the key of C, G7 is the chord that takes you home. Same letter, entirely different function.

Questions about Gmaj7

Which notes are in a Gmaj7 chord on piano?

G, B, D and F sharp. F sharp is the black key; the rest are white.

What fingers do you use for Gmaj7?

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

What is the difference between Gmaj7 and G7?

The top note. Gmaj7 has F sharp and rests; G7 has F natural and pulls to C. One key, and completely different behaviour.

Is Gmaj7 hard on piano?

No. It is G major with the little finger added on a black key, and the span is a comfortable seventh.

Where is the Gmaj7 chord used?

As the I chord in G and the IV in D. It is common in folk, pop and jazz alike.

Chords to learn next

Other G chords