The short version
- Cmaj7 is C major seventh. Its notes are C, E, G and B (formula 1 – 3 – 5 – 7).
- Easiest way to play it: the open shape, frets x 3 2 0 0 0 from low E to high E (x = don’t play).
- It sounds dreamy, jazzy, sunset-in-a-convertible. Swap it in for any I or IV chord in a major key when the song needs to sound expensive.
- Cmaj7 turns up in 4 keys: C major (as the Imaj7), G major (as the IVmaj7), A minor (as the IIImaj7) and E minor (as the VImaj7).
- Try it in: Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7, a two-chord dream-pop vamp you can loop forever.
How to play Cmaj7 on guitar, step by step
Start with the shape marked “Start here” above: the open chord, the easiest way in.
- Put your index finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string.
- Put your middle finger on fret 3 of the 5th (A) string.
- Let the G, B and high E strings ring open.
- Don’t play the low E string: skip it, or touch it lightly with a spare finger so it can’t ring.
- Strum from the 5th (A) string down, then press Strum on this page to check it sounds the same.
Once that’s comfy, try the other 2 shapes. Shape 2 is the barre chord, root on the 5th string (3rd fret): x 3 5 4 5 3. Shape 3 is the movable shape, root on the 6th string (8th fret): 8 x 9 9 8 x. Same chord, different spot on the neck, which helps when the next chord lives nearby.
Buzzing? Press just behind the fret wire, not in the middle of the fret, and come down on your fingertips so they don’t touch the next string. Then press Strum and play along: if yours sounds duller, one string is muted somewhere.
Notes in the Cmaj7 chord
Cmaj7 is built from 4 notes. On guitar you’ll often play some of them twice, on different strings. That’s normal; the chord is still Cmaj7.
| Note | Interval | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 root | Names the chord and anchors the bass. |
| E | 3 major third | Makes it major (happy). |
| G | 5 perfect fifth | Adds weight; often the first note left out. |
| B | 7 major seventh | The dreamy, jazzy shimmer. |
What Cmaj7 sounds like, and when to use it
A major chord plus the major seventh, which sits a semitone below the root. Dreamy and a bit wistful. City pop, neo-soul, bossa nova and bedroom pop can’t get enough. Swap it in for any I or IV chord in a major key when the song needs to sound expensive.
What key is Cmaj7 in?
Cmaj7 turns up in 4 keys: C major (as the Imaj7), G major (as the IVmaj7), A minor (as the IIImaj7) and E minor (as the VImaj7). Tap a key to see the rest of its chords on the circle of fifths.
| Key | Numeral | Spelled as |
|---|---|---|
| C major | Imaj7 | Cmaj7 |
| G major | IVmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
| A minor | IIImaj7 | Cmaj7 |
| E minor | VImaj7 | Cmaj7 |
Chords that go with Cmaj7
Here’s a progression to try: Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 (Imaj7–IVmaj7), a two-chord dream-pop vamp you can loop forever.
More progressions → Transpose it →
Using Cmaj7 in a Suno prompt
Suno pays attention to chord names in a style prompt, at least some of the time. Put the progression in, keep the BPM, and let it fill in the rest. Then compare its guitar part with the shapes above.
City pop, 98 BPM, chord progression Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7, jazzy major seventh chords, clean chorus guitar, Rhodes, slap bass, dreamy and nostalgic
Cmaj7 chord FAQ
What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?
Cmaj7 has 4 notes: C (the root), E (the major third), G (the perfect fifth) and B (the major seventh). The chord formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 7.
How do you play Cmaj7 on guitar?
The easy way is open chord. Strings from low E to high E: x 3 2 0 0 0 (x means don’t play that string). Put your index finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string. Put your middle finger on fret 3 of the 5th (A) string. Let the G, B and high E strings ring open. Don’t play the low E string: skip it, or touch it lightly with a spare finger so it can’t ring.
What does the “maj7” in Cmaj7 mean?
It tells you the chord type: Cmaj7 is C major seventh. A major chord plus the major seventh, which sits a semitone below the root. Dreamy and a bit wistful. City pop, neo-soul, bossa nova and bedroom pop can’t get enough.
What key is Cmaj7 in?
Cmaj7 turns up in 4 keys: C major (as the Imaj7), G major (as the IVmaj7), A minor (as the IIImaj7) and E minor (as the VImaj7). Major keys: C major, G major. Minor keys: A minor, E minor.
What is the difference between Cmaj7 and C7?
Cmaj7 adds the major seventh (B), a semitone below the root, so it sounds soft and dreamy. C7 adds the flat seventh (B♭), which sounds bluesy and wants to move on.
What chords go well with Cmaj7?
Try Fmaj7, Dm7, Em7 and Am7. The progression Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 (Imaj7–IVmaj7) is a two-chord dream-pop vamp you can loop forever. Press Play progression on this page to hear it.
Other major 7th chords
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