How to play Cmaj7: a major 7th built on C, with 5 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: an open-position shape using 3 open strings, played near the nut. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 2 0 0 0 (x = not played). Fingers: x 3 2 0 0 0 (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb).
This fingering is one good option, not the only one. If another finger feels more comfortable for your hand, or sets up the chord before or after more easily, use it.
| Note | C | E | G | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 | 7 |
Cmaj7 is a major 7th with C as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C, E, G, B. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
Cmaj7 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 2 major keys and 2 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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Cmaj7 is spelled C, E, G, B: the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 2 0 0 0 (x means the string is not played). Fingers: x 3 2 0 0 0 (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb). Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the D string at the 2nd fret. Your 3rd finger (ring) goes on the A string at the 3rd fret. The G, B and high E strings ring open. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent. The fingering is one good option; if another finger feels more comfortable or suits the chords around it, use that.
Cmaj7 belongs to 4 keys: C major (the I chord), G major (the IV chord), E minor (the VI) and A minor (the III).
