Sowlea

Amaj7 chord on guitar: fingering and notes

Amaj7 is a major seventh chord made of A, C♯, E and G♯. This shape uses 5 strings in open position.

×213EADGBE
Read the diagram as if the guitar stands in front of you: thickest string on the left, the nut at the top. Numbers are fingers (1 index … 4 little), ○ means play the string open, × means don’t play it.

Where each finger goes

  1. Middle finger on string 4 (D), fret 2.
  2. Index finger on string 3 (G), fret 1.
  3. Ring finger on string 2 (B), fret 2.
  4. Let string 5 (A) and string 1 (high E) ring open.
  5. Don’t play string 6 (low E): start your strum on string 5 (A).

Notes in the chord

Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7

StringFretNoteInterval
string 5 (A)openAroot
string 4 (D)2Eperfect fifth
string 3 (G)1G♯major seventh
string 2 (B)2C♯major third
string 1 (high E)openEperfect fifth

Check that every string rings

  1. Pick the strings one at a time from string 5 (A) to string 1. Every note should ring for about a second without buzzing or going dull.
  2. A dull or muted note usually means a fingertip is leaning on the next string: arch the finger so only the tip touches.
  3. A buzzing note usually means the finger is too far from the fret wire: slide it closer without pressing harder.
  4. Strings you don’t play should stay silent: aim the strum, or touch them lightly with a free finger.

Practise: change between Amaj7 and Dmaj7

  1. Set the metronome to 60 BPM in 4/4 (the button below applies these settings).
  2. Strum Amaj7 once on beat 1 and let it ring through beats 2, 3 and 4.
  3. During beat 4, lift your fingers and move to Dmaj7 so it sounds exactly on the next beat 1.
  4. Keep alternating Amaj7 and Dmaj7 for eight bars. When three changes in a row land on the beat with every string ringing, raise the tempo by 5 BPM.

What to listen for: the new chord starts on the click of beat 1, not after it, and no string goes silent during the change.

Practise at 60 BPM

Where this chord is used

  • In A major it is the Imaj7 chord.
  • In E major it is the IVmaj7 chord.
  • In F♯ minor it is the IIImaj7 chord.
  • In C♯ minor it is the VImaj7 chord.

Further reading

Fingerings and explanations by Sowlea. Each shape is checked automatically: the notes it sounds in standard tuning must be exactly the notes of the chord.