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Cmaj7 Guitar Chord

C major seventh (Cmaj7) is made of the notes C E G B. Here are 3 ways to play it on guitar, starting with the easiest.

How to play Cmaj7 on guitar

  1. Shape 1

    Open position

    2 1 C E G B E

    x32000

  2. Shape 2

    Barre at fret 3

    3fr 1 3 2 4 C G B E G

    x35453

  3. Shape 3

    Barre at fret 8

    8fr 1 4 2 3 C G B E G C

    8-10-9-9-8-8

Notes in Cmaj7

Formula 1 3 5 7
DegreeNote
1C
3E
5G
7B

Shape 1 step by step

  1. Put your middle finger on string 5 at fret 3.
  2. Put your index finger on string 4 at fret 2.
  3. Let strings 3, 2, 1 ring open.
  4. Don’t play string 6.
  5. Strum from string 5 to string 1.

Shape 2 step by step

  1. Lay your index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 3.
  2. Put your ring finger on string 4 at fret 5.
  3. Put your middle finger on string 3 at fret 4.
  4. Put your little finger on string 2 at fret 5.
  5. Don’t play string 6.
  6. Strum from string 5 to string 1.

Tune your guitar first

A chord only sounds right when your instrument is in tune. Check your strings with the free online tuner before you practise. Open the guitar tuner

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?

C major seventh has the notes C E G B. Its formula is 1 3 5 7. The numbers are steps of the major scale, counted from the root.

What is the easiest way to play Cmaj7 on guitar?

Start with shape 1 (open position), written as x32000 from string 6 to string 1. Here x means you don’t play that string and 0 means it rings open.

What is the difference between Cmaj7 and C7?

Cmaj7 has the notes C E G B, and C7 has C E G B♭. The only difference is that Cmaj7 has B where C7 has B♭.

Major 7th chords in every key

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