F Minor-Major 7th Chord

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Formula R – ♭3 – 5 – 7

Summary

F Minor-Major 7th is built from the notes F, A♭, C, E. The interval from F to A♭ is a minor 3rd (3 semitones), from F to C is a perfect 5th (7 semitones), from F to E is a major 7th (11 semitones). This chord contains 1 flatted note.

The minor-major 7th is one of the most dramatic chords in music — a dark minor triad clashing against a bright major 7th. It's the sound of spy movies and film noir, tense and mysterious.

Theory

This chord (R, ♭3, 5, 7) creates extraordinary tension: the minor 3rd pulls toward sadness while the major 7th reaches for brightness, and they sit just a semitone apart. It occurs naturally as the 1st chord in harmonic minor, which is why it sounds sophisticated rather than random. The most iconic use is the descending line: Cm → Cm(maj7) → Cm7 → Cm6, where one note walks down step by step while the minor triad stays put.

On the guitar

Take any minor barre chord and raise the ♭7 by one fret — on the E-shape barre, that means moving the note on the 4th string up one fret. The chord is rare enough that when it appears, the ear immediately snaps to attention. The open Em(maj7) shape is particularly easy and haunting: just play Em and add the 4th string at the 1st fret.

Advanced

Use it at the start of a minor-key progression for instant cinematic atmosphere, or as part of the classic descending line where one voice moves down chromatically while the root stays still. This descending inner voice is one of the most recognizable harmonic devices in popular music. The chord also works as a tonic in minor jazz ballads when you want a darker, more complex home base than a plain minor 7th.

Piano