E Major 7th Guitar Chord — Open D
Guitar chord voicings in Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
E Major 7th Voicings in Open D
E Major 7th filtered by fret:
E Major 7th in Open D Tuning — Guide
The E Major 7th chord is made up of the following notes: E, G#, B, D#.
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M.
The E Major 7th chord in Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) requires different fingerings than standard tuning.
E major seventh combines a major triad with a major seventh interval, yielding the notes E, G#, B, D# (intervals 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M). The major seventh sits just a half step below the octave, creating a lush, dreamy dissonance that sounds sophisticated rather than tense. This chord is the signature sound of bossa nova, smooth jazz, and neo-soul, evoking warmth, nostalgia, and romantic elegance.
How to Play E Major 7th
On guitar, the most common voicing for E maj7 is 0-2-1-1-0-0 — open position voicing with a lush, shimmering quality. This is one of the fundamental shapes every guitarist should memorize early on, as it appears in countless songs and serves as a building block for more complex voicings up the neck.
E Major 7th in Progressions
E major seventh typically serves as the Imaj7 in E major or the IVmaj7 in B major. These are the two diatonic positions where major seventh chords naturally occur, giving songs a polished, sophisticated character.
Common Substitutions
E6, Emaj9, or Eadd9 can replace the major seventh, offering varying levels of color and complexity.
Difficulty: On guitar, this chord has a comfortable open voicing — suitable for beginners and widely used in popular songs.