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E major 7th chord on bass (Emaj7)
Also called or written Emaj7 or EM7
E major 7th contains E, G♯, B, and D♯. The open-position shape uses three fretted notes and one open string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
How do you play an E major 7th chord on bass?
E major 7th is played in open position as 0 2 1 1: ring finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1 and middle finger on the G string at fret 1. The E string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 1 | D♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 2 | G♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe ring finger must reach the 2nd fret on the 3rd string while the index and middle hold the 1st fret, requiring a small stretch.
12th fret
E major 7th is played at the 12th fret as 12 14 13 13: index finger on the E string at fret 12, pinky finger on the A string at fret 14, middle finger on the D string at fret 13 and ring finger on the G string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 4 | B (5) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 2 | D♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 3 | G♯ (3) |
Emaj7/B inversion
E major 7th is played at the 6th fret as 7 7 6 8: middle finger on the E string at fret 7, ring finger on the A string at fret 7, index finger on the D string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 2 | B (5) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (1) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 1 | G♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 4 | D♯ (7) |
Emaj7/D♯ inversion
E major 7th is played at the 9th fret as 11 11 9 9: ring finger on the E string at fret 11, pinky finger on the A string at fret 11, index finger on the D string at fret 9 and middle finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11 | 3 | D♯ (7) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 1 | B (5) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 2 | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E major 7th is built from the 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the E major scale. The major 7th interval from E to D♯ gives the chord its smooth, resolved character. Compare it to E major, which lacks the D♯ and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with E major 7th?
- Letting the ring finger mute the 2nd string.
- Allowing the open 4th string to buzz against a finger.
- Plucking the 1st string too hard and making the D♯ ring out harshly.
When to use it
E major 7th is the I chord in E major, heard in E–A–B–E, the I–IV–V–I. It suits jazz, bossa nova, and mellow pop. Use it over E major or E 5th.
Changing to and from E major 7th
- From E major 7th, move the ring finger from the 3rd string 2nd fret to the 2nd string 1st fret to play E major.
Which voicing to use
The open-position shape keeps E in the bass for a grounded sound. The Emaj7/B inversion at the 7th fret puts B in the bass, softening the chord. The Emaj7/D♯ inversion at the 11th fret has the leading tone D♯ in the bass, creating tension that resolves to E.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E major 7th written?
E major 7th is written EM7 or Emaj7.
What mistake do bassists make with E major 7th?
Bassists often let the ring finger collapse and buzz the 3rd string. Keep the ring finger curved and press just behind the fret.
How does E major 7th sound in a higher register?
Playing E major 7th at the 12th fret gives a brighter, more bell-like tone. The same notes ring out with less low-end weight.
Why is E major 7th sometimes confused with E major?
E major 7th adds the D♯, the major 7th, to the E major triad. That extra note creates a dreamier, more resolved sound than E major.