Cmaj7 Guitar Chord

Looking for C#maj7 (C♯maj7)? →

Cmaj7 is a major 7th chord made of C · E · G · B. Major triad + major 7th — soft, jazzy and lush. The standard shape is an open chord: x32000 (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Cmaj7

Open chord · x32000

Cmaj7

Fret 3 barre · root on 5th string · x35453

Cmaj7

Fret 8 barre · root on 6th string · 8-10-9-9-8-8 · from fret 8

Cmaj7

Fret 10 · root on 4th string · x-x-10-12-12-12 · from fret 10

Index finger on string 4 (D), fret 2.
Middle finger on string 5 (A), fret 3.
Let strings 3, 2, 1 ring open.
Don't play string 6 (or mute lightly).
Strum down from string 5.

Cmaj7 guitar chord chart — open chord x32000 and 3 more shapes — All Cmaj7 shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

C
rootE
3rdG
5thB
7th

Play it easier with a capo

Capo on fret 3 + Amaj7 shape → sounds as Cmaj7
Capo on fret 5 + Gmaj7 shape → sounds as Cmaj7
Capo on fret 7 + Fmaj7 shape → sounds as Cmaj7

If barre chords are hard, clamp a capo and play an open shape — it sounds exactly the same. The Buskermate app can move a whole chord sheet to any capo position for you.

Try it: capo on

Scales that fit

Other C chords

C Cm C7 Cmaj7 Cm7 C6 Cm6 Csus4 Csus2 C7sus4 Cdim Cdim7 Cm7b5 Caug Cadd9 C9 Cm9 Cmaj9

Major 7th chords in other keys

Cmaj7 C♯maj7 Dmaj7 E♭maj7 Emaj7 Fmaj7 F♯maj7 Gmaj7 A♭maj7 Amaj7 B♭maj7 Bmaj7

FAQ

What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?

The Cmaj7 chord is made of C, E, G, B. Major triad + major 7th — soft, jazzy and lush.

What's the easiest way to play Cmaj7 on guitar?

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is x32000 (an open chord). If the barre is hard, put a capo on fret 3 and play a Amaj7 shape — it sounds the same.

Which scale works for soloing over Cmaj7?

C major or C lydian fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).