Also written Amaj7 or AM7
A major 7th contains A, C♯, E, and G♯. The 1-1-0-0 grip is the easiest shape, but it demands clean fretting on the first fret.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
A major 7th is built from the 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the A major scale. The major 7th interval between A and G♯ gives the chord its airy, resolved quality. Compare it with A major, which stops at the 5th and sounds more plain.
A major 7th is the I chord in A major, so it works in progressions like A–D–E–A (I–IV–V–I). Use it for smooth jazz, neo-soul, or any setting that needs a soft resolution.
The 1-1-0-0 shape puts C♯ in the bass, giving a first-inversion sound that is light and open. For a root-position voicing with A in the bass, use the 9-9-9-11 barre shape.
A major 7th is played in open position as 1 1 0 0: index finger on the G string at fret 1 and middle finger on the C string at fret 1. The E and A strings ring open.
Tip — The hardest part is fretting two adjacent strings at the 1st fret without muting the open strings.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (7) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 2 | C♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (5) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
A major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 4 4: index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the C string at fret 4, ring finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (1) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 2 | E (5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 3 | G♯ (7) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (3) |
A major 7th is played at the 9th fret as 9 9 9 11: barre your index finger across fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 11.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (7) |
A major 7th is played in open position as 6 4 4 0: ring finger on the G string at fret 6, index finger on the C string at fret 4 and middle finger on the E string at fret 4. The A string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 3 | C♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 1 | E (5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (7) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
A major 7th is written as AM7 or Amaj7.
A major 7th adds the G♯ on top of the A major triad. The G♯ creates a leading tone that pulls toward A, making the chord feel more resolved.
The 1-1-0-0 shape has C♯ in the bass, which is the third of the chord. The barre shape at the 9th fret puts A in the bass, giving a root-position sound that is fuller and more grounded.