Interval · 11 half steps
Major seventh
A major seventh is 11 half steps. From C, a major seventh up is B.
- Half steps
- 11
- Short name
- M7
- Guitar frets
- 11
How it sounds
One half step short of an octave. On its own it sounds sharp and tense; over a major chord it turns dreamy and lush.
Songs to remember it by
Hum the start of the chorus of Take On Me or Don’t Know Why (Norah Jones). The jump between the first two notes is a major seventh. Reference songs get you started; after a while you will hear the interval itself.
On the guitar
Two strings higher, 1 fret up. With the lower note on the low E or A string in standard tuning; shapes that cross from the G string to the B string move up one fret.
A major seventh up from every note
| From | Up a major seventh | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | B | |
| D♭ | C | |
| D | C♯ | |
| E♭ | D | |
| E | D♯ | |
| F | E | |
| G♭ | F | |
| G | F♯ | |
| A♭ | G | |
| A | G♯ | |
| B♭ | A | |
| B | A♯ |
Chords with a major seventh above the root
This interval isn’t in the game’s “How far apart?” round yet; it’s here so the reference is complete.