Chord Shapes

Major 7th

Intervals: 1-3-5-7. A major triad with a major 7th, giving a soft, dreamy tension because the 7th lies just a semitone below the root. In jazz harmony maj7 chords occur naturally as Imaj7 and IVmaj7 in major keys and often serve as key centres in standard progressions (“All the Things You Are”, “Wave”, “The Girl from Ipanema”). The sound is stable yet slightly wistful, ideal for conveying resolution with a touch of romance. In progressions, the 7th typically resolves by step when the chord moves on (for example, the maj7 of IV falling to the 3rd of V). Players frequently enrich maj7 chords with 9ths, 13ths or #11 (for Lydian colour) and prefer close-position voicings that highlight 3 and 7 as guide tones.