Major 7 chords are a really nice way of adding colour to your standard major chords. Major chords are built using notes 1, 3, and 5 from the major scale. When playing a Major 7 chord, we simply add one extra note – the 7th. So a Major 7 chord is built using notes 1, 3, 5, and 7 from the major scale. This 7th note is what gives the Major 7 chord its specific colour.
You can substitute (swap) any major chord for a major 7 chord (unless you’re playing the fifth chord of a key, in which you’d need a Dominant 7 chord). Try it out, and see how it sounds.
If you’re unsure of how to read the chord boxes below, click here.
A Major 7
C Major 7
D Major 7
E Major 7
F Major 7
G Major 7
