Fmaj7, major seventh chord
F, A, C and E
- Root
- F
- Major third
- A
- Perfect fifth
- C
- Major seventh
- E
Formula
1 3 5 7 (4, 7, 11 half steps above F)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | F | A | C | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
F major 7 inversions
F major 7 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
Fmaj7
Root position
| Notes | F | A | C | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Fmaj7/A
First inversion
| Notes | A | C | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Fmaj7/C
Second inversion
| Notes | C | E | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Fmaj7/E
Third inversion
| Notes | E | F | A | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with F major 7
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. F major 7 appears as:
- Imaj7 in F major
- IVmaj7 in C major
- VImaj7 in A minor
- IIImaj7 in D minor
How F major 7 is built
F is the root, A the major third, C the perfect fifth and E the major seventh.
A major seventh chord is a major chord plus the major seventh, 11 half steps above the root and one key below the octave. It sounds soft and is common in jazz and pop ballads.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of F major 7 are F, A, C, E. That is why it is spelled F, A, C and E.
Find F major 7 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of F major 7, in any octave and any order.
Practice F major 7 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the F major 7 chord?
F major 7 (Fmaj7) has four notes: F, A, C and E. F is the root, A the major third, C the perfect fifth and E the major seventh.
What fingers do you use for F major 7 on piano?
In root position, play F, A, C and E with right hand fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb, index finger, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of F major 7?
F major 7 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Fmaj7/A): A, C, E and F. Second inversion (Fmaj7/C): C, E, F and A. Third inversion (Fmaj7/E): E, F, A and C.
What key is F major 7 in?
F major 7 is Imaj7 in F major, its home key. It also appears as IVmaj7 in C major, VImaj7 in A minor and IIImaj7 in D minor.