Major Seventh Chord

The Major Seventh Chord is a major triad to which a major seventh is added. The notes are: root, major third, perfect fifth, and major seventh. Unlike the minor seventh of the Dominant 7, the major seventh creates a 'warm', 'velvety', 'dreamy' and inherently stable sound, without the aggressive resolving impulse. It is frequently used as a tonic chord (I degree) or subdominant (IV degree) in major keys, adding a sophisticated, relaxed, and somewhat 'bright' color. It is ubiquitous in jazz, soul, and modern light music, contributing to an atmosphere of calm and harmonic complexity.

Common Progressions

• Imaj7 - IVmaj7 (a tonic and subdominant progression that creates a serene, open, and rich atmosphere)
• ii - V7 - Imaj7 (the standard and almost iconic resolution of a jazz progression, where the I degree is a Maj7 for a full and sophisticated final sound)
• Imaj7 - iii7 - vi7 - ii7 - V7 - Imaj7 (an extended and complex jazz progression, where the Maj7 maintains its function as an enriched tonic)