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C♯ major 7th chord on ukulele (C♯maj7)
Also called or written C♯maj7 or C♯M7
C♯ major 7th is built from C♯, E♯, G♯, and B♯. This 6th-fret grip is a wide stretch, and the C♯maj7/A♭ inversion requires a one-finger barre.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
How do you play a C♯ major 7th chord on ukulele?
C♯ major 7th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 8 8: index finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the C string at fret 8, ring finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 3 | B♯ (7) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe index finger at fret 6 and pinky at fret 8 force a wide stretch, and the three fingers on fret 8 must fit without muting each other.
1st fret
C♯ major 7th is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 1 3: barre your index finger across fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | B♯ (7) |
C♯maj7/E♯ inversion
C♯ major 7th is played at the 4th fret as 5 5 4 4: ring finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the C string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and middle finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 3 | B♯ (7) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ major 7th stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th above C♯. The major 7th interval is what separates it from C♯ major, which stops at the perfect 5th.
What goes wrong with C♯ major 7th?
- The ring finger touches the A string, muting the pinky's note.
- The index finger leans on the C string, causing a buzz.
- The pinky fails to press firmly, making the A string sound thin.
When to use it
C♯ major 7th works as the I chord in C♯ major, such as C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯ (I–IV–V–I). It also fits the I–V–vi–IV progression C♯–G♯–A♯ minor–F♯. Use it for jazz, fusion, or any style that embraces sharp keys and bright major colors.
Changing to and from C♯ major 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 5th fret gives C major 7th.
- From C♯ major, lift the pinky and add the middle and ring fingers on fret 8 for C♯ major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 6th fret voicing puts C♯ in the bass for a root-position sound. The C♯maj7/A♭ inversion at frets 1-1-1-3 places the 5th in the bass, giving a lighter, more open feel.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ major 7th written?
C♯ major 7th is written C♯M7 or C♯maj7. On a keyboard, the root is typed as C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does my C♯ major 7th sound out of tune?
Check that the middle and ring fingers are not bending the strings sideways. The three fingers on fret 8 must press straight down, and the pinky must clear the E string.
Can I use the C♯maj7/A♭ inversion as a substitute?
Yes, but it has G♯ in the bass, which makes it less stable than the root position. Use it when you want a passing chord that leads to C♯ major.