Toadfrog, You say "...Major seventh chords, except in blues, do not sound right to me... . " Have you ever tried to play "My Favorite Things," or "The Christmas Song," or "La Vie En Rose," or any number of popular or jazz songs or show tunes without a major 7th? Granted, there may be few "folk songs" that use or need a major 7th, but a lot of popular, jazz, and show tunes do-- not just blues.

Personally, I love major 7ths (though I don't try to insert them into "Wildwood Flower"). There are some chords that send shivers down my spine, and major 7ths are among them.

I actually have an arrangement of "Wild Mountain Thyme" that I do just for the fun of it that uses a major 7th, 2 minor 7ths, and a minor 6th. Doesn't sound real "folky," but I like it, just for a change.

khandu, I'm with you: there are chords that don't sound so hot when strummed but sound really neat as arpeggios or when finger picked.

Genie