G#maj7 Chord on Guitar
G#maj7 = G# – C – D# – G (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 7th)
G#maj7 uses the same fourth-fret barre as G# major, with the D# string's note dropped one fret from the octave root down to the major seventh — the identical half-step adjustment F#maj7 and Gmaj7 make lower on the neck, applied one fret higher.
The chord voices G#-C-G-D#: root, major third, major seventh, and fifth, with the fifth doubled across two strings. The major seventh sits a half step below the root, creating a gentle, unresolved pull rather than a dominant seventh's outright tension — the harmonic equivalent of a held breath. As I in G# major it's a lush tonic color more at home in jazz ballads and bossa nova than plain-triad pop; borrowed briefly as a modal-mixture color within B major, it softens whatever chord follows it.
Fingerings
Barre (4th fret)
How to Practice It
Learn the plain G# major barre solidly first, then practice lowering only the D#-string finger by one fret while the rest of the hand stays locked in place. Because the major seventh sits right next to the root, pay attention to whether it's ringing clearly rather than getting buried under the barre's overall pressure — a maj7 chord that isn't cleanly fretted just sounds like a slightly out-of-tune major triad.
Common Progressions
- G#maj7 – C# – D# – G#maj7 (I – IV – V – I in G# major)
- Fm7 – Bb7 – Ebmaj7 – G#maj7 (a jazz ii-V-I sequence landing on G#maj7 as a borrowed color)
- G#maj7 – F# – B (borrowed lush color before resolving into B major)
- B – G#maj7 (a modal-mixture bVI color in B major)
FAQ
- What single note separates G# major from G#maj7?
- The D#-string note drops one fret, from the octave root (G#) to the major seventh (G) — every other string in the barre stays exactly where it was for the plain major chord.
- Why does G#maj7 sound so different from G#7 despite the similar name?
- The seventh is a different note entirely: G#7 uses the minor seventh, a whole step below the root, creating a strong dominant pull, while G#maj7 uses the major seventh, a half step below the root, creating a much softer, unresolved color.
- Is G#maj7 a common chord in guitar music?
- It's less common as a tonic than plain G# major, but it turns up as a color chord — a borrowed or modal-mixture substitution — in jazz, bossa nova, and softer pop writing that wants a lusher texture.
- How hard is the G#maj7 barre for a player who already knows the lower F# and G versions?
- It carries over directly — the same finger adjustment applied one fret higher up the neck, so anyone comfortable with F#maj7 or Gmaj7 already has the physical shape.
- Is G#maj7 sometimes written as Abmaj7?
- Yes, especially in flat-key or jazz-standard charts, though the pitches and fingering are identical regardless of which spelling is used.
G#maj7 on other instruments: G#maj7 on Piano, G#maj7 on Ukulele. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.