B Minor Major Seventh Chord (Bm(maj7))

1Composition: what it contains

B – D – F♯ – A♯

Symbol

Bm(maj7)

Also written

BmMaj7, Bm(maj7), B-Δ7, BmM7, Bmin(maj7)

Formula

1 ♭3 5 7

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

On the guitar

On the ukulele

On the piano

On the staff

On bass and as an arpeggio

3Indications: what it is used for

The tonic chord of the harmonic and melodic minor scales, used as a i chord in jazz and film music. It appears in the minor line cliché (i–imMaj7–im7–im6), where the descending chromatic line passes through it. Jazz players use it as a tonic minor colour at the end of a minor ii–V–i, and film composers use it for suspense or mystery. Melodic minor (jazz minor) is the typical scale over it.

4Dosage: how to practise it

On guitar, learn the shape rooted on the fifth string and the drop-2 voicing on the top strings. On piano, play root-♭3-5-7 in all inversions, then practise the line cliché i–imMaj7–im7–im6 at 60–80 BPM, keeping the moving voice clear. Improvise over the chord using melodic minor. Arpeggiate the chord in two octaves. Five minutes daily, alternating with m7 to train your ear. On bass, outline 1-♭3-5-7 and let the major seventh lead back up to the root. Compare the chord with the minor sixth and minor seventh in the same session.

5Warnings and common mistakes

The seventh is major: do not confuse it with m7. The major seventh and minor third are a major third apart and form an augmented triad on top, which can sound dissonant in close voicings; spread them out. Avoid doubling the major seventh. Symbols vary widely (mMaj7, m(maj7), -Δ7), which can confuse readers. It is unstable as a passing chord, so resolve it to m7, m6 or the tonic.

6Interactions with chords, scales and keys

Inversions

• Inversion 1 · Bm(maj7)/D · D – F♯ – A♯ – B Play
• Inversion 2 · Bm(maj7)/F♯ · F♯ – A♯ – B – D Play
• Inversion 3 · Bm(maj7)/A♯ · A♯ – B – D – F♯ Play

Scales to play over Bm(maj7)

• B Harmonic Minor Scale
• B Melodic Minor Scale
• B Hungarian Minor Scale

7Other presentations available

The same chord from every note

Cm(maj7) C♯m(maj7) Dm(maj7) E♭m(maj7) Em(maj7) Fm(maj7) F♯m(maj7) Gm(maj7) A♭m(maj7) Am(maj7) B♭m(maj7)

Other chords on B

B Bm Bdim Baug Bsus2 Bsus4 B5 B6 Bm6 B7 Bmaj7 Bm7 Bm7♭5 Bdim7 B7sus4 Badd9 Bm(add9) B6/9 B9 Bmaj9 Bm9 B11 Bm11 B13 B7♭9 B7♯9 B7♯5 B7♭5