Major seventh: hear it and recognise it by ear
The major seventh is 11 semitones, one half step short of an octave. Play it up, down and together and learn the trick to recognise it.
A major seventh is 11 semitones, such as C up to B: one half step short of an octave. Played up it sounds like a reach that almost arrives; played together it is the dreamy, tense colour of a major seventh chord (C E G B).
Listen to a major seventh
C to B: 11 semitones.
What does a major seventh sound like?
Bright but sharp, almost like a wrong octave. Played together the notes clash softly, the shimmering sound of jazz and pop major seventh chords.
Songs that start with a major seventh
Few famous melodies open with a major seventh, so we list none rather than a doubtful one. The reliable anchor is the octave: sing the octave, then drop the top note by a half step.
How do you recognise a major seventh by ear?
- Sing an octave and lower the top note a half step: that is the major seventh.
- Upside down it is a minor second: C up to B is a major seventh, B up to C is a minor second. Both sound tense.
- Minor seventh or major seventh? The major seventh is one semitone wider and much more strained.
Quick test: major seventh or not?
Four sounds. Each one is a major seventh or one of the intervals people confuse it with. Listen, then pick.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
The major seventh on every note
Intervals are spelled by letter: a major seventh always spans 7 letter names, which is why the top note is sometimes a sharp or a flat.
| From | Major seventh up | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | B | |
| D♭ | C | |
| D | C♯ | |
| E♭ | D | |
| E | D♯ | |
| F | E | |
| F♯ | E♯ | |
| G | F♯ | |
| A♭ | G | |
| A | G♯ | |
| B♭ | A | |
| B | A♯ |
Major seventh in numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 11 |
| Size on a piano (equal temperament) | 1100 cents |
| Pure (just) ratio | 15:8 = 1088.3 cents |
| Piano vs pure | +11.7 cents |
| Inversion | Minor second (1 semitones) |
Frequently asked questions
How many semitones are in a major seventh?
Eleven: one less than an octave. For example C to B, F to E, or G to F sharp.
What is the inversion of a major seventh?
A minor second: C up to B is a major seventh, B up to the next C is a minor second (11 + 1 = 12 semitones).
How do I recognise a major seventh by ear?
Compare it with the octave. If the top note sounds like it wants to slide up a half step to complete an octave, it is a major seventh.
What is a major seventh chord?
A major triad plus the major seventh above the root: C E G B. It sounds soft and dreamy.