How to play Emaj7(add11)/B chord on guitar
Shape 777890
Shape characteristics
Barre chord
Your first finger flattens across multiple strings at the same fret. Movable up and down the neck to any key without changing the shape.
Mid-neck · fret 7-9
Balanced tone, with neither the ringing openness of first position nor the bright snap of the upper register. Common choice for rhythm work when you want a fuller, more compact sound.
Full six-string voicing
All six strings ring, giving you the biggest, most resonant version of this chord, ideal for strumming and solo acoustic contexts.
Bass: B · Top: E
The 5th is in the bass, giving an open, unresolved feel that often precedes a strong resolution back to root position.
Shape 777897 is the closest alternative voicing. Try both to see which fits better.
How to play this shape
- 1 Place the 1st finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string, 5th string, and 6th string in barre position
- 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
- 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 9th fret of the 2nd string
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "777890" mean?
The sequence 777890 is a highly compact guitar chord notation. It represents the fret played on each of the 6 strings, reading left-to-right from the thickest (lowest pitch) string to the thinnest (highest pitch) string: E, A, D, G, B, e.
- x means the string is muted or skipped entirely.
- 0 means the string is played "open" (without pressing over a fret).
- 1-9 represent standard fret numbers 1 to 9.
- a, b, c... represent frets 10, 11, 12, and higher (where a=10, b=11, c=12).
Can I play this Emaj7(add11)/B shape anywhere else?
Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a Emaj7(add11)/B chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for Emaj7(add11)/B. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.
How do I stop my fingers from buzzing?
Since this shape uses open strings (marked with '0'), make sure your fingers are arched like a "claw" so they don't accidentally brush against the open strings. Press down firmly just behind the metal fret wires for the clearest sound.
Other shapes
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