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Am(maj7)

Character: mysterious

  1. ARtriad
  2. C♭3triad
  3. E5triad
  4. G♯7add
Open Am(maj7) in the chord libraryDownload the Am(maj7) chart (PDF)
Voicings

13 ways to play Am(maj7)

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

  • Triad note
  • Substitute
  • Added
  • Anchored root
  • Bass
  • Doubling
CC shape 3rd inversion Am(maj7)/G♯
9 10 11 12 R 5 ♭3 7

Frets x 11 10 9 10 xNotes G♯ C E AIntervals 7 ♭3 5 1Base triadA minor, 1st inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

CC shape Root position Am(maj7)
9 10 11 12 7 5 ♭3 R 5

Frets x 12 10 9 9 0Notes A C E G♯Intervals 1 ♭3 5 7Base triadA minor, root position

The 7th gets a string of its own.

CC shape 1st inversion Am(maj7)/C
9 10 11 12 13 5 R 7 ♭3 5 R

Frets x 0 10 13 10 0Notes C G♯ AIntervals ♭3 7 1Base triadA minor, 1st inversion

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape Root position Am(maj7)
9 10 11 12 13 5 7 ♭3 R 5 R

Frets x 12 10 13 10 0Notes A C G♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadA minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape 2nd inversion Am(maj7)/E
9 10 11 12 13 7 ♭3 R 5 5 R

Frets 12 12 10 13 10 0Notes E A C G♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 7Base triadA minor, 2nd inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

AA shape Root position Am(maj7)
1 2 3 4 5 7 ♭3 R 5 R

Frets x 0 2 2 1 4Notes A C G♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadA minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

AA shape 2nd inversion AnchoredAm(maj7)
1 2 3 4 R ♭3 7 5 R 5

Frets x 0 2 1 1 0Notes A E G♯ CIntervals 1 5 7 ♭3Base triadA minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 7th takes the root’s string.

GG shape 3rd inversion Am(maj7)/G♯
1 2 3 4 5 R 5 ♭3 7

Frets 4 3 2 2 x xNotes G♯ C E AIntervals 7 ♭3 5 1Base triadA minor, 1st inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position Am(maj7)
2 3 4 5 6 5 7 ♭3 R 5 5 ♭3

Frets 5 3 6 5 5 0Notes A C G♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadA minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 3rd inversion Am(maj7)/G♯
5 6 7 8 R 5 ♭3 7

Frets x x 6 5 5 5Notes G♯ C E AIntervals 7 ♭3 5 1Base triadA minor, 1st inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position Am(maj7)
5 6 7 8 9 5 7 ♭3 R 5 R R

Frets 5 0 7 5 9 0Notes A C G♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadA minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredAm(maj7)
5 6 7 8 R ♭3 7 5 R 5 5

Frets 5 7 6 5 5 0Notes A E G♯ CIntervals 1 5 7 ♭3Base triadA minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 7th takes the root’s string.

DD shape 2nd inversion AnchoredAm(maj7)
7 8 9 10 R ♭3 7 5 R R

Frets x 0 7 9 9 8Notes A E G♯ CIntervals 1 5 7 ♭3Base triadA minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 7th takes the root’s string.

The rules

The construction rules Am(maj7) follows

  1. Start from a triad

    Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.

  2. A third on top makes a 7th chord

    A major 7th over a major triad is maj7, a ♭7 is a dominant 7. Over minor you get m7 or m(maj7); over diminished, m7♭5 or the °7, whose 7th is lowered twice.

  3. On guitar, something has to give

    Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.

  4. The root can move down

    When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

Minor major 7th in every key

More chords on A

Am(maj7) chord questions

What notes are in Am(maj7)?

Am(maj7) is spelled A C E G♯: A is the root, C is the ♭3rd, E is the 5th, G♯ is the 7th.

What is the formula of Am(maj7)?

1 ♭3 5 7. It is a A minor triad with the 7th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play Am(maj7) on guitar?

This page shows 13 voicings of Am(maj7), filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.