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C♯ major 7th chord on bass (C♯maj7)
Also called or written C♯maj7 or C♯M7
C♯ major 7th contains C♯, E♯, G♯, and B♯. The 9th-fret shape demands a wide pinky stretch across four frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
- Root positionC♯–E♯–G♯–B♯C♯maj79-11-10-10
- First inversionE♯–G♯–B♯–C♯C♯maj7/E♯no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionG♯–B♯–C♯–E♯C♯maj7/G♯4-4-3-5
- Third inversionB♯–C♯–E♯–G♯C♯maj7/B♯8-8-6-6
How do you play a C♯ major 7th chord on bass?
C♯ major 7th is played at the 9th fret as 9 11 10 10: index finger on the E string at fret 9, pinky finger on the A string at fret 11, middle finger on the D string at fret 10 and ring finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 2 | B♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 3 | E♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 11th fret on the 3rd string while the index stays at the 9th fret, stretching the hand.
C♯maj7/G♯ inversion
C♯ major 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 4 4 3 5: middle finger on the E string at fret 4, ring finger on the A string at fret 4, index finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 1 | E♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 4 | B♯ (7) |
C♯maj7/B♯ inversion
C♯ major 7th is played at the 6th fret as 8 8 6 6: ring finger on the E string at fret 8, pinky finger on the A string at fret 8, index finger on the D string at fret 6 and middle finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 3 | B♯ (7) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ major 7th is built from the 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the C♯ major scale. The major 7th interval from C♯ to B♯ gives the chord its bright, resolved quality. Compare it to C♯ major, which omits the B♯ and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with C♯ major 7th?
- Letting the pinky mute the 2nd string by lying flat.
- Allowing the index finger to roll off the 4th string.
- Plucking the 1st string too hard and making the B♯ ring out harshly.
When to use it
C♯ major 7th is the I chord in C♯ major, as in C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯, the I–IV–V–I. It works for jazz fusion, progressive rock, and atmospheric pop. Use it over C♯ major or C♯ 5th.
Changing to and from C♯ major 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 8th fret gives C major 7th.
- From C♯ major 7th, move the pinky from the 3rd string 11th fret to the 2nd string 10th fret to play C♯ major.
Which voicing to use
The 9th-fret shape places C♯ in the bass for a strong root position. The C♯maj7/A♭ inversion at the 4th fret has G♯ in the bass, giving a lighter feel. The C♯maj7/C inversion at the 8th fret puts the leading tone B♯ in the bass, creating tension that resolves to C♯.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ major 7th written?
C♯ major 7th is written C♯M7 or C♯maj7. The ASCII root spelling is C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the hardest part of C♯ major 7th?
The hardest part is stretching the pinky to the 11th fret while keeping the index on the 9th fret. Practice the stretch slowly to build flexibility.
How does C♯ major 7th differ from C♯ major?
C♯ major 7th adds the B♯, the major 7th, to the C♯ major triad. That note creates a more sophisticated, jazzy sound.
Can C♯ major 7th be played in a lower register?
Yes, the C♯maj7/A♭ inversion at the 4th fret sits lower on the neck. It sounds warmer and is easier to reach.