Amaj7 Chord on Guitar
Notes A C♯ E G♯. Start with open Amaj7 (x 0 2 1 2 0): middle finger on string 4 fret 2, index on string 3 fret 1, ring finger on string 2 fret 2.
Chord · Amaj7 major 7th
Open Amaj7 · x 0 2 1 2 0
open strings
Dmaj7-shape, 4 strings (fret 7) · x x 7 9 9 9
movable, no open strings
Amaj7-shape (fret 12) · x 12 14 13 14 12
barre, movable
1 A3 C♯5 E7 G♯
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): open
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 2
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 1
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): open
- Barre: ring finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 9
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 7
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 9
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 9
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 9
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 12
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 12
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 14
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 13
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 14
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 12
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root |
| 3 | C♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | E | perfect 5th |
| 7 | G♯ | major 7th |
Formula 1 3 5 7 (major 7th).
Also written AM7, A major 7th.
More on this chord type: 7th chords explained
Capo shapes that sound as Amaj7
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Fmaj7 shape + capo 4
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Easier stand-in
A
When the major 7th is too soft for the melody, plain A keeps the same root, 3rd and 5th and needs no new fingering.
Keys that contain Amaj7
| Key | Amaj7 is the |
|---|---|
| A major | Imaj7 |
| E major | IVmaj7 |
| C♯ minor | VImaj7 |
| F♯ minor | IIImaj7 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Amaj7: what goes wrong
Amaj7 in A and E
Amaj7 is the Imaj7 chord of A major and the IVmaj7 of E major. In C♯ minor it is the VImaj7, in F♯ minor the IIImaj7.
Open A with one move
Open A is x 0 2 2 2 0. For Amaj7 only string 3 changes, from fret 2 (A) to fret 1 (G♯), the major 7th, so the three fingers step from a straight row into a small zigzag.
The 4-string shape at fret 7
x x 7 9 9 9 is open Dmaj7 (x x 0 2 2 2) moved up seven frets, with the index on string 4 and the ring finger barring strings 3, 2 and 1. It is higher up and brighter than the open shape.
Related chords
Learn and practise Amaj7
- Metronomepractise the change to Amaj7 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Amaj7?
A, C♯, E, G♯: the 1, 3, 5, 7 of the Amaj7 major 7th chord.
What is the difference between A and Amaj7?
Amaj7 adds G♯, the major 7th: A, C♯, E, G♯. It is one fret below the root, which is why it sounds soft and dreamy.