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Minor Major 7th Chords on Piano

The minor major 7th chord (mMaj7) is one of the most dramatic chords in music — a minor triad with a major seventh that creates intense tension between dark and bright. It is the sound of James Bond themes, film noir, and harmonic minor harmony.

Formula: Root – Minor 3rd – Perfect 5th – Major 7th
Intervals: 3 + 4 + 4 semitones
Scale degrees: 1–♭3–5–7
Sound: Dramatic, mysterious, tense, cinematic
Symbol: mMaj7, m(Δ) (CmMaj7)

The chromatic descent: The most famous use of mMaj7 is the descending chromatic line: Cm → CmMaj7 → Cm7 → Cm6. Only the top note moves chromatically (G → B → B♭ → A). This appears in Stairway to Heaven, My Funny Valentine, and countless film scores.

Minor Major 7th Chord in All 18 Keys