G major 7th chord on piano
The G major 7th chord is G–B–D–F#. Tap the keys below to hear it.
Gmaj7G · B · D · F#
Tap the keys to hear them
Gmaj7 adds an F# to the G triad, one half step below the root above it. That gentle rub is the chord's glow, a staple of bossa nova and soft pop in G.
How the G major 7th chord is built
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-2-3-5 land for Gmaj7.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | G – B – D – F# | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion | B – D – F# – G | 1-2-4-5 | 5-4-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion | D – F# – G – B | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion | F# – G – B – D | 1-2-4-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 4 shapes of Gmaj7.
Where Gmaj7 shows up
Gmaj7 is the home chord (I) of G major played with its major seventh on top; the key has one sharp. Everywhere the plain G triad works, Gmaj7 works with extra colour, and it shares its scale with E minor.
It closes the classic ii–V–I: Am7–D7–Gmaj7.
Common questions
What notes are in the G major 7th chord?
The G major 7th chord is made up of G, B, D, F#. F#, the black key between F and G, is the only raised note in the shape; G and B and D stay white.
What fingers should I use to play Gmaj7 on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). Gmaj7 puts finger 5 on F#, the chord's only black key.
What are the seventh chords in the key of G major?
Building a seventh on each degree of the G major scale gives Gmaj7, Am7, Bm7, Cmaj7, D7, Em7, F#m7b5. Gmaj7 is the first of them, the I maj7.
When should I play Gmaj7 instead of G major?
They are interchangeable in most progressions: Gmaj7 is the G triad with F# added on top. Reach for Gmaj7 when the moment calls for a softer, jazzier landing; reach for the plain triad when the music needs directness.
More G chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-19