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A Major 7th Guitar Chord (Amaj7)

Amaj7 keeps A's shape but breaks the three-finger row. x02120, the G♯ slipping in on the third string. It's the tonic sound of bossa and 70s soft rock in A.

Amaj7 serves white pizza like it's 1974.

Amaj7 chord shapes in standard tuning

open string × muted / not played 1–4 suggested finger 3fr shape starts at fret 3 R · 3 · 5 · ♭7 chord tone each string sounds
Amaj7 guitar chord diagram, Open position, frets x-0-2-1-2-0×R2517335
Open position
x-0-2-1-2-0
Amaj7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 5fr, frets 5-7-6-6-5-55fr1R4527335R
Barre · 5fr
5-7-6-6-5-5
Amaj7 guitar chord diagram, 7fr, frets x-x-7-9-9-97fr××1R253743
7fr
x-x-7-9-9-9
Amaj7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 9fr, frets x-12-11-9-9-99fr×3R231573
Barre · 9fr
x-12-11-9-9-9

How to play it

Place your index finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 2, and your ring finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 2. Let the A (5th) and high E (1st) strings ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.

Notes in this chord

SymbolIntervalNote
RrootA
3major thirdC♯
5perfect fifthE
7major seventhG♯

Amaj7 FAQ

What notes are in Amaj7?
Amaj7 contains A, C♯, E, and G♯. That's the root (A), the major third, the perfect fifth, and the major seventh.

Is Amaj7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest Amaj7 shape (x-0-2-1-2-0) needs no barre. It uses 3 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 5, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.

What is the easiest way to play Amaj7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-0-2-1-2-0. Place your index finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 2, and your ring finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 2. Let the A (5th) and high E (1st) strings ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.