Fmaj7 is often the first F that sounds good in a beginner's hands, and that is no accident: its easiest shape needs no barre and leaves the high E open. It is F major with one added note, E, which turns a solid chord into a soft, open one. Learn it as a chord in its own right, then learn when it can stand in for F and when it cannot.
Fmaj7 chord: notes and shapes at a glance
- Name: F major seventh
- Symbol: Fmaj7
- Notes: F, A, C, E
- Where it belongs: IVmaj7 in C major, Imaj7 in F major, IIImaj7 in D minor, VImaj7 in A minor
Each shape below is written from the thickest string to the thinnest: a
number is the fret, 0 an open string, x a string you
do not play. New to this? See how to read chord diagrams.
| Shape | Frets, low E to high E | Notes, low to high | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fmaj7, four strings | xx3210 | F A C E | The easy one: no barre, open high E. Strum the top four strings only. |
| Fmaj7, thumb bass | 1x3210 | F F A C E | Same shape, with the thumb adding F on the low E. The fifth string stays muted. |
| Fmaj7, inner voicing | 1x221x | F E A C | Moves the E into the middle of the chord and mutes the high E. Rounder, good for soul and jazz comping. |
| Fmaj7, eighth fret | x 8 10 9 10 8 | F C E A C | The Amaj7 shape barred at fret 8: first finger across the fifth to first strings, third finger on the fourth string, second finger on the third, fourth finger on the second. |
Read each diagram from the thickest string on the left to the thinnest on the right. A cross means the string is not played, a circle means it rings open.
Fmaj7 on the neck: every F, A, C, E
Standard tuning, frets 0 to 12. The highlighted notes are the notes of Fmaj7: any shape you build from them, anywhere on the neck, is still Fmaj7.
How to play Fmaj7, step by step
1. The four string shape: xx3210
Third finger on the fourth string (D) at fret 3: that is F, the root. Second finger on the third string (G) at fret 2: A. First finger on the second string (B) at fret 1: C. The first string rings open: E, the major seventh. Keep the first finger arched so it does not lean on that open string.
2. Add the bass: 1x3210
Wrap the thumb over the neck and press the low E at fret 1. Now F sits at the bottom of the chord too. The fifth string must stay silent: the side of the thumb or the tip of the third finger can damp it.
3. Move the E inside: 1x221x
Thumb on the low E at fret 1, second finger on the fourth string at fret 2 (E), third finger on the third string at fret 2 (A), first finger on the second string at fret 1 (C). Mute the high E. The major seventh is now in the middle of the chord instead of on top, which takes the shimmer away and leaves the warmth.
Fmaj7 instead of F: when it works
This is the question behind most searches for this chord. A song asks for F, the barre is not ready, and xx3210 is right there. The honest answer is: often, not always.
| Situation | Fmaj7 for F? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Strummed pop or folk song in C | Usually yes | E belongs to the key of C, so the extra note fits the harmony. |
| The melody lands on F over that chord | No | The open E sits a half step under the melody note and clashes. |
| A song in F, where F is home | Careful | Ending on Fmaj7 sounds unfinished. Use it inside the song, close on F. |
| F followed by F7 or Bb | No | Those moves rely on the plain triad, and E fights the Eb of F7. |
When in doubt, play the bar both ways and listen. If you need the plain chord without a full barre, xx3211 is the answer, and the barre chords page covers the rest.
Progressions with Fmaj7
Fmaj7 lives most naturally next to C, where it is the IV chord with a softer edge. These pairs are written as shapes, thickest string first.
| Progression | Shapes | What to listen for |
|---|---|---|
| C, Fmaj7 | x32010 to xx3210 | The open high E rings through both chords: it is the glue between them. |
| Cmaj7, Fmaj7 | x32000 to xx3210 | A dreamy two chord loop. Let both ring for a full bar. |
| C, Fmaj7, G, C | x32010, xx3210, 320003,
x32010 | I, IV, V, I with a gentler IV. |
| Am, Fmaj7, C, G | x02210, xx3210, x32010,
320003 | Am to Fmaj7 moves only two fingers: the second and first fingers stay close. |
Fmaj7 is not F7
The names look close and the shapes are a fret apart on one string, but they do opposite jobs. Fmaj7 adds E, the major seventh, and rests. F7 adds Eb, the flat seventh, and pushes: it is the dominant chord that leads to Bb. Swap one for the other and the progression changes direction. Read the symbol carefully: "maj7" (or a small triangle, FΔ7) means E, a plain "7" means Eb.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Fmaj7 on guitar?
Can I play Fmaj7 instead of F?
What notes are in an Fmaj7 chord?
What is the difference between Fmaj7 and F7?
Why does my Fmaj7 sound muddy?
Who made this
Guitar Social Club is the work of Yohann Abbou, a guitar teacher in Paris who teaches adults. Every shape on this page is written string by string and checked against standard tuning, and the diagrams are drawn from those same fret numbers. The rest of our free guitar tools, including the chord finder, work the same way.
More about Yohann on his page, and about why Guitar Social Club exists.