Dominant 7 (last lesson) sounds bluesy. Major 7 sounds lush, dreamy, sophisticated. Minor 7 sounds soulful, mellow, jazzy. Four more chord shapes that change the entire vocabulary of what you can play.
Pay attention:
- Cmaj7: open C chord with the index finger lifted (no note on the B string fret 1). The note that was a "C" becomes an open B = the major 7.
- Am7: open Am with the ring finger lifted (no note on the G string fret 2). The note that was an "A" becomes the open G = the minor 7.
- Em7: open Em with the ring finger NOT pressed at the D string fret 2. So just one finger, on the A string fret 2, with D open. Easiest 7th chord on the guitar.
- Dmaj7: D shape modified. The B string drops from fret 3 to fret 2 (C#, the major 7). G and high E stay at fret 2.
The sound
- Wonderwall (Oasis) uses Em7. The "ringing" feel is the open G plus the open low E together.
- Something (The Beatles) moves C → Cmaj7 → C7, the maj7 is what creates that dreamy hovering quality.
- Wish You Were Here uses Em7 + G chord transitions throughout.
Drill it
Practice metronome
70BPM
Try this 4-chord progression: Cmaj7 → Am7 → Dm7 → Em7. Each chord 4 beats. Loop for 10 minutes. It is a simple diatonic loop in C major.
If you have not played Dm7 yet: it's the D7 shape (lesson 5) with the high E string lowered from fret 2 to fret 1 (F natural).
The pattern across chord types
You now know four chord families:- Major (lesson Beginner-7: D)
- Minor (lesson Beginner-7: Em, Am)
- Dominant 7 (lesson 5: G7, A7, D7)
- Major 7 + minor 7 (this lesson)
Next: hammer-ons and pull-offs. Time to make your lead playing flow.