BeginnerMajor 7th
Cmaj7 Chord
The Cmaj7 is a major 7th chord that sounds lush, sophisticated, and dreamy. Major 7th chords have a rich, sophisticated color used in jazz, bossa nova, and R&B. The major 7th adds a floating, romantic quality to the otherwise stable major triad.
Notes:CRoot (1)EMajor 3rd (3)GPerfect 5th (5)BMajor 7th (7)
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Open Position
No barre required
How to Play Cmaj7
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ✕Mute, do not play this string | – |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ●Fret 3 with your ring finger | E |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ●Fret 2 with your middle finger | G |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ○Open, play the open string | B |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ○Open, play the open string | C |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ○Open, play the open string | E |
○ = Open string (no fingers needed)
✕ = Muted string (don't play)
● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret
Notes in Cmaj7
The Cmaj7 chord is built from 4 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:
C
Root (1)
The root, gives the chord its name
E
Major 3rd (3)
The major third, creates the bright sound
G
Perfect 5th (5)
The fifth, adds power and stability
B
Major 7th (7)
Extended tone, adds richness and color
Read the deep-dive guide for Cmaj7
Other C Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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