How to play the Cmaj7 chord on guitar
C major seventh (Cmaj7) in standard tuning (EADGBE). Play the shape x32000 from the low E string to the high E string. The chord tones are C, E, G, B, and the lowest sounding note is C.
Fingering chart
| String | Fret | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 6th (low E) | Muted | Not played |
| 5th (A) | 3 | C |
| 4th (D) | 2 | E |
| 3rd (G) | Open | G |
| 2nd (B) | Open | B |
| 1st (high E) | Open | E |
Notes and intervals
Formula 1 3 5 7. This shape sounds each chord tone.
| Note | Degree | Interval from C | In this shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Root (0 semitones) | Yes |
| E | 3 | Major 3rd (4 semitones) | Yes |
| G | 5 | Perfect 5th (7 semitones) | Yes |
| B | 7 | Major 7th (11 semitones) | Yes |
Changing chords from Cmaj7
Cmaj7 sounds five strings with one string muted: two fretted positions between frets 2 and 3, plus three open strings. The quickest changes leave fretted notes where they are, so the hand pivots instead of lifting off the neck. These are the chords in this library that share the most fretted notes with the Cmaj7 shape.
- Cmaj7 to C: keep two fretted notes in place (5th string fret 3, 4th string fret 2), one new position to fret.
- Cmaj7 to C7: keep two fretted notes in place (5th string fret 3, 4th string fret 2), two new positions to fret.
- Cmaj7 to Em: keep one fretted note in place (4th string fret 2), one new position to fret.
- Cmaj7 to Am7: keep one fretted note in place (4th string fret 2), one new position to fret.