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.
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Position — Fret 8
Uses a barre chord technique
Barre Shape — Fret 3
Uses a barre chord technique
How to Play Cmaj7
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ●Fret 8 with your index finger | C |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ●Fret 10 with your ring finger | E |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ●Fret 10 with your pinky finger | G |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ●Fret 9 with your middle finger | B |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ●Fret 8 with your index finger | C |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ●Fret 8 with your index finger | 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:
Other C Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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