Chord Shapes

Major 7th Suspended 4th

Intervals (conceptual): 1-4-5-7, often with added 9. Replacing the 3rd of a maj7 with the 4th yields a rich but unsettled sound in which the 4th would like to resolve down to 3 while the 7th stays in place. Rather than being a strict classical suspension, in modern jazz and film scoring it is treated as a stable colour on I or IV that may or may not resolve. It works well in slow piano voicings and guitar textures where the upper notes can ring, and can be combined with 9 or 13 for particularly lush, “veiled maj7” sounds.