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Cmaj7 Chord on Guitar

Cmaj7 is the C major 7th chord — 4 notes (C, E, G, B) built from the formula 1 3 5 7. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E · G · BFormula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 7Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

Cmaj7: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • Cmaj7 – open position×R3573open position
  • Cmaj7 – fret 1×R37R×fret 1
  • Cmaj7 – fret 2×R373×fret 2
  • Cmaj7 – fret 3×R5735fret 3
  • Cmaj7 – fret 55R35R37fret 5
  • Cmaj7 – fret 77××R357fret 7
  • Cmaj7 – fret 88R5735Rfret 8
  • Cmaj7 – fret 99××R373fret 9

Cmaj7: Drop 2 voicings

  • Cmaj7 – bass: 55R37××bass: 5
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 59×5R37×bass: 5
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 55××5R37bass: 5
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 75735R××bass: 7
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 712×735R×bass: 7
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 78××735Rbass: 7
  • Cmaj7 – bass: R8R573××bass: R
  • Cmaj7 – bass: R×R573×bass: R
  • Cmaj7 – bass: R10××R573bass: R
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 31037R5××bass: 3
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 35×37R5×bass: 3
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 3××37R5bass: 3

Cmaj7: Drop 3 voicings

  • Cmaj7 – bass: 3103×R57×bass: 3
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 35×3×R57bass: 3
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 55×37R×bass: 5
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 58×5×37Rbass: 5
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 757×5R3×bass: 7
  • Cmaj7 – bass: 712×7×5R3bass: 7
  • Cmaj7 – bass: R8R×735×bass: R
  • Cmaj7 – bass: R×R×735bass: R

Cmaj7: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • Cmaj7 – R-3-77R37×××R-3-7
  • Cmaj7 – R-3-7×R37××R-3-7
  • Cmaj7 – R-7-38R×73××R-7-3
  • Cmaj7 – R-7-3×R×73×R-7-3

Keys that contain Cmaj7

Scales to play over Cmaj7

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E, G, B.

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Major 7th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?
Cmaj7 (C major 7th) contains C, E, G, B — formula 1 3 5 7.
How do you play Cmaj7 on guitar?
A common shape is x32000 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with Cmaj7?
Good choices to solo over Cmaj7: C Ionian (Major), C Lydian, C Lydian ♯2.
What key is Cmaj7 in?
Cmaj7 is diatonic in C major (Imaj7), G major (IVmaj7), E minor (♭VImaj7), A minor (♭IIImaj7).