C major 7th (Cmaj7)
CRoot
EMaj 3
GPerf 5
BMaj 7
Dreamy and sophisticated. Common in jazz, bossa nova, and R&B. Creates a lush, warm sound often used as Imaj7 or IVmaj7.
03
How to play it
Cmaj7/G
C major 7th, Open
- Bass
- G, the 5th
- Root
- C
- Strings
- E A D G B e · open
- CRoot
- EM3
- GP5
- BM7
Up the neck
6 voicings, same four notesWhy a major 7th chord sounds the way it does
C+4 fretsE+3 fretsG+4 fretsB
Stacked from 3 intervals. Compare with C7 →
04
Where to go next
More C chords
Same root, other colours
Chords in the key of C
What Cmaj7 usually sits next to
Close relatives
Relatives of C major
Other maj7 chords
Same quality, every root
03
How to play it
Cmaj7/G
C major 7th, Open
- Bass
- G, the 5th
- Root
- C
- Strings
- E A D G B e · open
- CRoot
- EM3
- GP5
- BM7
Up the neck
6 voicings, same four notes04
Where to go next
More C chords
Same root, other colours
Chords in the key of C
What Cmaj7 usually sits next to
Close relatives
Relatives of C major
Other maj7 chords
Same quality, every root