Cmaj7 Chord on Guitar
Notes C E G B. Start with open Cmaj7 (x 3 2 0 0 0): the open C with the index finger lifted off string 2.
Chord · Cmaj7 major 7th
Open Cmaj7 · x 3 2 0 0 0
open strings
Amaj7-shape (fret 3) · x 3 5 4 5 3
barre, movable
Cmaj7, root on string 6 (fret 8) · 8 x 9 9 8 x
movable, no open strings
1 C3 E5 G7 B
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 3
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 2
- String 3 (G): open
- String 2 (B): open
- String 1 (high e): open
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 3
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 3
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 5
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 4
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 3
- String 6 (low E): middle (2), fret 8
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 9
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 8
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | root |
| 3 | E | major 3rd |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th |
| 7 | B | major 7th |
Formula 1 3 5 7 (major 7th).
Also written CM7, C major 7th.
More on this chord type: 7th chords explained
Capo shapes that sound as Cmaj7
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Fmaj7 shape + capo 7
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Keys that contain Cmaj7
| Key | Cmaj7 is the |
|---|---|
| C major | Imaj7 |
| G major | IVmaj7 |
| E minor | VImaj7 |
| A minor | IIImaj7 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Cmaj7: what goes wrong
Cmaj7 is not C7
Cmaj7 adds B, a half step below C; C7 adds B♭. They sound very different: Cmaj7 is soft and settled, C7 wants to move to F. Check which one the chord sheet asks for.
Home chord or IV
Cmaj7 is the Imaj7 of C major and the IVmaj7 of G major. In G it can take the place of C in slow songs.
Related chords
Learn and practise Cmaj7
- Metronomepractise the change to Cmaj7 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Cmaj7?
C, E, G, B: the 1, 3, 5, 7 of the Cmaj7 major 7th chord.
What is the difference between Cmaj7 and C7?
Cmaj7 is C, E, G, B (major 7th); C7 is C, E, G, B♭ (flat 7th). One note apart, but Cmaj7 sounds settled and C7 restless.