Interval
Major seventh
A major seventh is 11 half steps: from C up to B.
- Half steps
- 11
- Symbol
- M7
- Sound
- Dissonance: tense, wants to move
Play it yourself
Tap any key, then the key 11 half steps higher.
Tap a first note.
Hear it in a song
You can hear a major seventh in the chorus of Take On Me. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
A major seventh from every note
The letter names follow the interval's number, so a third always skips one letter, even when a sharp or flat is needed.
- C – B
- C♯ – B♯
- D – C♯
- E♭ – D
- E – D♯
- F – E
- F♯ – E♯
- G – F♯
- A♭ – G
- A – G♯
- B♭ – A
- B – A♯