Banjo · Level 4 · Beginner

Major seventh chords in G major on Banjo

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Major seventh chords add the note a half step below the root, for a soft, dreamy colour used in jazz, bossa nova and R&B.

Gmaj7

G major seventh

Notes: G · B · D · F♯

gDGBD♯

Cmaj7

C major seventh

Notes: C · E · G · B

gDGBD
1
Gmaj7
2
Gmaj7
3
Cmaj7
4
Cmaj7

HOW TO PRACTISE IT

Six steps to a clean loop.

  1. Play each chord on its own: Gmaj7 and Cmaj7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
  2. The short fifth string (g) is only played open; let it ring when it fits the chord.
  3. Set the tempo to 57 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Play gently and evenly so the seventh blends rather than clashes.
  4. Pinch the bass and top strings on beat one, then roll thumb–index–middle through the other strings.
  5. Raise the tempo to 76 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
  6. Record one take, listen back and check for the shimmer of the major seventh near the top of the chord.

Listen for

Aim for the shimmer of the major seventh near the top of the chord. A common mistake is confusing maj7 with the dominant 7 shape.

Why it works

The major seventh sits a semitone below the octave, a gentle dissonance that does not demand resolution.

G major has 1 sharp; its relative minor key is E minor.

Questions

What are the chords in Imaj7–IVmaj7 in G major?

In G major the progression is Gmaj7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 | Cmaj7.

What is the key signature of G major?

G major has 1 sharp. Its relative minor is E minor.

Is this lesson right for my level?

This is a level 4 lesson (beginner). If it feels too hard, start with “Dominant seventh chords”.

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The same lesson in other keys

On another instrument

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