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C major 7th chord on guitar (Cmaj7)
Also called or written Cmaj7 or CM7
C major 7th is built from C, E, G, and B. The open voicing mutes the low E, so the chord rings with a clear C bass and a soft, airy top.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
- Root positionC–E–G–BCmaj7×-3-2-0-0-0
- First inversionE–G–B–CCmaj7/E0-2-2-0-1-0
- Second inversionG–B–C–ECmaj7/G3-2-2-0-1-0
- Third inversionB–C–E–GCmaj7/B×-2-2-0-1-0
How do you play a C major 7th chord on guitar?
C major 7th is played in open position as × 3 2 0 0 0: middle finger on the A string at fret 3 and index finger on the D string at fret 2. The G, B and high e strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (3) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (7) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (3) |
AdvancedThe low E string must be muted while three open strings ring, demanding precise right-hand control to avoid accidental bass notes.
Open · G on top
C major 7th is played in open position as × 3 2 0 0 3: middle finger on the A string at fret 3, index finger on the D string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The G and B strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (3) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (7) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (5) |
3rd fret
C major 7th is played at the 3rd fret as × 3 5 4 5 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 5, middle finger on the G string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 5. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 5 | 3 | G (5) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 2 | B (7) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 4 | E (3) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
8th fret
C major 7th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 9 9 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, pinky finger on the A string at fret 10, middle finger on the D string at fret 9 and ring finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 2 | B (7) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 3 | E (3) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
10th fret
C major 7th is played at the 10th fret as × × 10 12 12 12: index finger on the D string at fret 10, middle finger on the G string at fret 12, ring finger on the B string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 3 | B (7) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 4 | E (3) |
Why it sounds like that
C major 7th stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th above the root C. The major 7th interval between C and B defines the chord's dreamy quality. Compare it to C major, which stops at the triad and sounds more settled.
What goes wrong with C major 7th?
- The low E string sounds because the thumb or palm does not fully mute it.
- The index finger flattens onto the G string, deadening the open note.
- The middle finger on the A string leans into the D string, causing a buzz.
When to use it
C major 7th works as the I chord in C major, especially in progressions like C–F–G–C (I–IV–V–I). Its lush sound suits jazz ballads, neo-soul, and soft pop. Try it with F major and G major for a warm, resolved feel.
Changing to and from C major 7th
- Move to <a href="/guitar/f-major-chord">F major</a> by lifting the middle finger and placing the index and ring fingers on the 1st and 2nd frets of the D and G strings.
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 1st fret gives B♭ major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the easiest and most resonant, with the C bass on the A string. The 8th-fret barre voicing offers a fuller, higher-register sound when you need more presence. Use the 3rd-fret barre for a compact shape that moves easily up the neck.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C major 7th written?
C major 7th is written as CM7 or Cmaj7. The root is C.
Why mute the low E string?
The low E is a chord tone, but muting it keeps the C on the A string as the lowest note. This preserves the intended bass and voicing.
What is the difference between C major 7th and C major?
C major 7th adds the B note, a major 7th above C. C major contains only C, E, and G, so the 7th chord sounds more colorful and less resolved.
Can I play C major 7th in other positions?
Yes, the 3rd-fret and 8th-fret barre shapes are common. The 10th-fret voicing uses only the top four strings for a brighter sound.