B Major 7th
Bmaj7
Notes
B · D♯ · F♯ · A♯
Intervals
- RootB (1P)
- Major 3rdD♯ (3M)
- Perfect 5thF♯ (5P)
- Major 7thA♯ (7M)
Fretboard
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Voicings & shapes
Drop-2 voicings (12)
Drop-3 voicings (8)
Shell voicings (2)
About
The B major 7th (B–D♯–F♯–A♯) adds a major seventh to the major triad. Unlike the dominant 7 there is no tritone — the A♯ sits a half step below the root, creating a gentle, unresolved shimmer rather than a strong directional pull. This makes maj7 a tonic or subdominant color, used to add sophistication without urgency. The major 7th interval itself is the defining tone; the fifth can be omitted. On guitar, shell voicings (1–3–7) are efficient and common in jazz. The half step between A♯ and the root is part of the appeal — a tension that does not demand resolution. Compared to B7, maj7 is relaxed and expansive; compared to B, more harmonically lit-from-within.
Chord diagrams
B Major 7th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- B Lydian (I)
- B Major (I)
- A♭ Dorian (III)
- A♭ Natural Minor (III)
- B♭ Locrian (II)
- B♭ Phrygian (II)
- D♭ Dorian (VII)
- D♭ Mixolydian (VII)
- E Lydian (V)
- E♭ Harmonic Minor (VI)
- E♭ Natural Minor (VI)
- E♭ Phrygian (VI)
- F Locrian (V)
- F♯ Major (IV)
- F♯ Mixolydian (IV)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.