An array coil to achieve more uniform RF excitation for high field magnetic resonance imaging. In the preferred embodiment, the array coil has a plurality of transmit-composite elements distributed around the object to be imaged. A composite element comprises up to three current loops preferably orthogonal to each another. The array coil has the capability to shape the distribution of all three orthogonal components (x, y, and z) of the RF B.sub.1 field.