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Major Seventh Chord – Definition
A major seventh chord is a four-note chord consisting of a major triad with an added major seventh above the root.
What is a Major Seventh Chord?
A majomajor seventh chord contains the root, major third, perfect fifth, and major seventh. It is commonly written as maj7, M7, or with the symbol △7, depending on the notation system.
Major seventh chords are widely used in jazz, pop, soul, R&B, bossa nova, and many contemporary styles. They provide a harmonic colour that differs from the dominant seventh chord, which contains a minor seventh.
How is a Major Seventh Chord used in piano playing?
Pianists use major seventh chords in accompaniment, chord voicings, and song arrangements. They frequently appear as tonic chords in major keys and are also used to enrich harmonic progressions.
Learning major seventh chord voicings helps pianists develop harmonic vocabulary and create a wider variety of chord textures.