Emaj7 chord
Emaj7 is E, G♯, B and D♯: 1–3–5–7 built on E. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
0-2-1-1-0-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 7
- First shape
- 0-2-1-1-0-0
Emaj7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E–G♯–B–D♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 7
Emaj7 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-3-0-2 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 7
- First shape
- 1-3-0-2
Emaj7 and the chords around it
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- Emaj7 → Amaj7 (IV in E major)
Guitar: Emaj7 (0-2-1-1-0-0) to Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the B string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share E and G♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Emaj7 to Amaj7: play Amaj7 in 2nd inversion (E–G♯–A–C♯) and E and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while B moves down to A and D♯ down to C♯. Amaj7 - Emaj7 → B7 (V in E major)
Guitar: Emaj7 (0-2-1-1-0-0) to B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2): your index finger stays put, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the high E string, 2nd fret. Listen for B and D♯, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Emaj7 to B7: play B7 in 2nd inversion (F♯–A–B–D♯) and B and D♯ stay under the same fingers, while E moves up to F♯ and G♯ up to A. B7 - Emaj7 → C♯m7 (vi in E major)
Guitar: Emaj7 (0-2-1-1-0-0) to C♯m7 (x-4-2-1-0-0): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share E, G♯ and B, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Emaj7 to C♯m7: play C♯m7 in 1st inversion (E–G♯–B–C♯) and E, G♯ and B stay under the same fingers, while D♯ moves down to C♯. C♯m7
Guitar with a capo: capo 2, Dmaj7 shape; capo 4, Cmaj7 shape; capo 7, Amaj7 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 4, Cmaj7 shape; capo 7, Amaj7 shape.
How Emaj7 is built
Emaj7 is a major seventh chord: a major triad with the note a half step below the octave added. The result is soft and a little dreamy, the sound of bossa nova, soul ballads and a lot of indie guitar.
Start on E, count 4 half steps up to G♯, 3 half steps up to B then 4 half steps up to D♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 | |
| G♯ | major third | 4 | |
| B | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| D♯ | major seventh | 11 |
Keys and progressions with Emaj7
Emaj7 belongs to 4 keys: I7 in E major, IV7 in B major, III7 in C♯ minor and VI7 in G♯ minor.
Play ii–V–I in E major and you get F♯m7 – B7 – Emaj7. the jazz cadence
Chords close to Emaj7
- Emaj7 is E plus D♯. E
- Emaj7 and E7 differ by one note: D♯ in Emaj7, D in E7. They share E, G♯ and B. E7
Chords that share most of their notes with Emaj7: E, G♯m, C♯m7, E7, Eadd9, E6.
Every E chord
Emaj7 chord: questions
What notes are in the Emaj7 chord?
E, G♯, B and D♯. Emaj7 is built 1–3–5–7 from E: G♯ is the major third, B is the perfect fifth and D♯ is the major seventh.
How do you play Emaj7 on guitar?
The usual shape is 0-2-1-1-0-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Emaj7 on piano?
Play E, G♯, B and D♯ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. E sits just right of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Emaj7 on ukulele?
1-3-0-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Emaj7 in?
Emaj7 belongs to 4 keys: I7 in E major, IV7 in B major, III7 in C♯ minor and VI7 in G♯ minor.
What's the difference between Emaj7 and E?
Emaj7 is E plus D♯.
All three instruments are drawn and played from E, G♯, B and D♯ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.