- Fmaj7
- B♭maj7
Fmaj7 Guitar Chord
Everything about the F Major 7 chord: How to play it, what it's built from, the chords it pairs with, and examples of pros using it in real performances.
NotesF • A • C • E
Difficulty
Easy
Open position
What is the Fmaj7 chord?
Fmaj7 is a bright, open, and sophisticated chord that combines the warmth of an F major triad with the luminous quality of a major seventh interval. It has an airy, almost dreamy character—less grounded than a plain F major, but more resolved and stable than a dominant seventh. The major seventh gives it a jazzy, contemporary feel that works beautifully in ballads, funk grooves, and modern pop. Guitarists reach for Fmaj7 when they want to add harmonic color and sophistication without introducing tension or darkness. It's the tonic chord in the key of F major, so it often appears as a home base in progressions, but it also works wonderfully as a passing chord or as a way to refresh a major chord with added elegance. The open voicing sits naturally on the guitar and rings with a full, resonant tone.
Notes & Intervals
Fmaj7 spells F (root) · A (M3) · C (P5) · E (M7). The major seventh interval—that bright, open E sitting just a half-step below the octave—is what gives this chord its signature luminous, sophisticated color.
Where It Lives
Fmaj7 appears as the I chord in F major, anchoring progressions in jazz, R&B, soul, and contemporary pop. It also works beautifully as a color chord in other keys, adding sophistication to ballads and smooth grooves without demanding resolution.
Fmaj7 vs. Fmaj
Fmaj7 adds the E (major 7th) to a basic F major triad (F · A · C), replacing the octave F with that shimmering seventh. Where Fmaj feels grounded and complete, Fmaj7 floats with an open, almost unresolved elegance—perfect for jazz, soul, and modern pop.
Mood & Character
Fmaj7 radiates warmth, openness, and gentle sophistication—think late-night conversations and introspection. Reach for it when you want to lift a progression into something more refined, or to create a sense of ease and emotional clarity.
Voicings for Fmaj7
Four ways to play it using the same four notes. Pick a voicing below to hear it on the fretboard.
- NotesF • A • C • EDifficultyEasy
Open position
Progressions that use Fmaj7
Hear how the chord works in context of songs.
Learn to play Fmaj7 from the experts
Handpicked lessons from TrueFire courses that lean on this chord.
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Frequently asked questions for Fmaj7
Fmaj7 contains four notes: F · A · C · E. F is the root, A is the major third, C is the perfect fifth, and E is the major seventh. These intervals (1 · M3 · P5 · M7) give the chord its warm, open, sophisticated sound.
The easiest way is the open position voicing: x-x-3-2-1-0. Mute the first two strings, place your third finger on the third string at fret 3, your second finger on the fourth string at fret 2, your first finger on the fifth string at fret 1, and play the sixth string open. This shape is beginner-friendly and produces a bright, ringing tone.
Fmaj7 has a major seventh (E), while Fm7 has a minor third (Ab) and minor seventh (Eb). This makes Fmaj7 sound bright and open, whereas Fm7 sounds darker and more introspective. The major seventh gives Fmaj7 a jazzy, sophisticated quality that works well in contemporary and jazz contexts.
The open position voicing (x-x-3-2-1-0) is specific to F and doesn't move easily as a barre chord. However, you can learn movable maj7 shapes higher up the neck. For example, a common movable maj7 shape uses the root on the A string, which you could position at different frets to play other maj7 chords, including Fmaj7 on the 8th fret.
Fmaj7 is the I chord (the tonic) in the key of F major. It's the home chord and the most stable chord in that key. Other chords in F major include Gm7 (ii), Am7 (iii), Bbmaj7 (IV), C7 (V), Dm7 (vi), and Em7b5 (vii). Fmaj7 often appears at the beginning or end of progressions in this key.