Cmaj7 Guitar Chord
C Major 7th · C–E–G–B
Cmaj7 is the C major 7th chord: C–E–G–B. Its sound is smooth and dreamy — the lush, jazzy color heard in ballads, neo-soul, and bossa nova.
Cmaj7 takes the plain C major triad and adds the major 7th (B), one half-step below the root. That single note transforms it from a campfire chord into the lush sound of jazz standards, neo-soul, and city pop. It works as the I chord in C major and the IV chord in G major.
The most common way to play Cmaj7 is the top color at the 1st fret (x x x 4 1 0, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 10 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Cmaj7: 10 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Cmaj7 Chord Theory
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | E | G | B |
Cmaj7 is built from the C major scale.
Cmaj7 Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?
Cmaj7 contains 4 notes: C (R), E (3), G (5), B (7). The interval formula for a major 7th chord is R–3–5–7.
What is the easiest way to play Cmaj7 on guitar?
Use the top color at the 1st fret: x x x 4 1 0 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Cmaj7 has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is Cmaj7 a major or minor chord?
Cmaj7 is built on a major triad (C–E–G) with the 7 added, so it behaves as a major-family chord.
What keys use the Cmaj7 chord?
Cmaj7 appears diatonically in C major (as I), G major (as IV), and F major (as V) — plus A minor, its relative minor key.
Related Chords
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