Emaj7
Open PositionThe classic open Emaj7 — the open E chord with the D string lowered from fret 2 to fret 1, giving you the D# (major 7th). Use a partial barre with your index across D and G at fret 1, and middle on A fret 2. The low E, B, and high e ring open.
Emaj7
7th FretA-shape barre chord rooted on E at the 7th fret. Mute the low E; barre fret 7 with your index, then add ring on D fret 9, middle on G fret 8, and pinky on B fret 9. A focused, moveable maj7 voicing — great when you want a more pronounced maj7 colour than the open shape.
Emaj7
12th FretA compact 4-string maj7 voicing with the root on the low E string at fret 12. Index on low E fret 12 (root), middle on B fret 12 (5th), ring on D fret 13 (maj7), pinky on G fret 13 (3rd). Mute the A and high e strings. No barre required.
Emaj7
14th FretD-shape voicing with the root on the D string at fret 14. A compact, focused voicing high on the neck — strum the top four strings only.
Emaj7
11th FretA Drop 2 voicing on the top four strings — root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th stacked in order. A go-to jazz comping shape with a clear, sparkling sound.
Tips for Playing the Emaj7 Chord
Use a partial barre
In the open Emaj7, lay your index finger flat across the D and G strings at fret 1. It is often easier than two separate fingers and gives a cleaner sound.
Hear the maj7
The D# on the D string is what makes this chord a maj7. Move it to fret 2 and you are back to a regular E chord — try toggling between them to train your ear.
Try the barre for more colour
The open Emaj7 has the maj7 (D#) on only one string, with the open root and 5th doubling on top. If you want a more pronounced maj7 character, the A-shape barre at fret 7 brings the maj7 forward.
Use it in place of E
Emaj7 sounds great as a substitute for E in folk, ballads, bossa nova, and soft pop. Try it anywhere a plain E feels too bright.
Move the barre shapes
The A-shape at fret 7 and E-shape at fret 12 are fully moveable — slide them up or down to play any major 7th chord.
Bossa nova and soul
Emaj7 → Amaj7 is one of the dreamiest two-chord vamps in music. Try fingerpicking the top four strings for a soft Brazilian-jazz feel.
About the Emaj7 Chord on Guitar
The Emaj7 chord is built from four notes: E, G#, B, and D#. It is the E major triad with an added major 7th, giving the chord a warm, dreamy, slightly bittersweet quality. Emaj7 appears constantly in jazz, bossa nova, soul, and pop ballads — anywhere a richer, more colourful version of E is wanted. This page covers five voicings, from the easy open shape (a partial barre at the 1st fret) all the way to advanced barre and Drop 2 jazz voicings. Every diagram is interactive and playable with real acoustic guitar sound.
- 015 Emaj7 chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Real acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Open position, barre, D-shape, and Drop 2 jazz voicings
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 4 notes that form the E Major 7th chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.