Amaj7 chord
Amaj7 is A, C♯, E and G♯: 1–3–5–7 built on A. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-0-2-1-2-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- A · C♯ · E · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 7
- First shape
- x-0-2-1-2-0
Amaj7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · A–C♯–E–G♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- A · C♯ · E · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 7
Amaj7 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-1-0-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- A · C♯ · E · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 7
- First shape
- 1-1-0-0
Where Amaj7 usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what Amaj7 does in songs.
- Amaj7 → Dmaj7 (IV in A major)
Guitar: Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0) to Dmaj7 (x-x-0-2-2-2): your index finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for A and C♯, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Amaj7 to Dmaj7: play Dmaj7 in 2nd inversion (A–C♯–D–F♯) and A and C♯ stay under the same fingers, while E moves down to D and G♯ down to F♯. Dmaj7 - Amaj7 → E7 (V in A major)
Guitar: Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0) to E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret. An easy one to get up to speed. The two chords share E and G♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Amaj7 to E7: play E7 in 2nd inversion (B–D–E–G♯) and E and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while A moves up to B and C♯ up to D. E7 - Amaj7 → F♯m7 (vi in A major)
Guitar: Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0) to F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 4th fret. Listen for A, C♯ and E, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Amaj7 to F♯m7: play F♯m7 in 1st inversion (A–C♯–E–F♯) and A, C♯ and E stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves down to F♯. F♯m7
Guitar with a capo: capo 2, Gmaj7 shape; capo 4, Fmaj7 shape; capo 5, Emaj7 shape; capo 7, Dmaj7 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 2, Gmaj7 shape; capo 4, Fmaj7 shape.
How Amaj7 is built
Amaj7 is a major seventh chord: a major triad with the note a half step below the octave added. The result is soft and a little dreamy, the sound of bossa nova, soul ballads and a lot of indie guitar.
Start on A, count 4 half steps up to C♯, 3 half steps up to E then 4 half steps up to G♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | root | 0 | |
| C♯ | major third | 4 | |
| E | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| G♯ | major seventh | 11 |
Keys and progressions with Amaj7
You'll find Amaj7 as I7 in A major and IV7 in E major. On the minor side it's III7 in F♯ minor and VI7 in C♯ minor.
Play ii–V–I in A major and you get Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7. the jazz cadence
Chords close to Amaj7
- Amaj7 is A plus G♯. A
- Amaj7 and A7 differ by one note: G♯ in Amaj7, G in A7. They share A, C♯ and E. A7
Chords that share most of their notes with Amaj7: C♯m, A, C♯m7, C♯m6, E6, F♯m7.
Every A chord
Amaj7 chord: questions
What notes are in the Amaj7 chord?
A, C♯, E and G♯. Amaj7 is built 1–3–5–7 from A: C♯ is the major third, E is the perfect fifth and G♯ is the major seventh.
How do you play Amaj7 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-0-2-1-2-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Amaj7 on piano?
Play A, C♯, E and G♯ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. A sits between the last two black keys of the three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Amaj7 on ukulele?
1-1-0-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Amaj7 in?
You'll find Amaj7 as I7 in A major and IV7 in E major. On the minor side it's III7 in F♯ minor and VI7 in C♯ minor.
What's the difference between Amaj7 and A?
Amaj7 is A plus G♯.
Every diagram on this page is generated from the notes A, C♯, E and G♯ and checked automatically so the sound matches the drawing. Updated September 2026.