Cmaj7 chord
The C major seventh chord, written Cmaj7, has 4 notes: C, E, G and B. They are the root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh above C (chord formula 1 3 5 7).
- NotesC E G B
- Chord symbolCmaj7, CM7, C△7
- Formula1 3 5 7
- Half steps4 + 3 + 4
Cmaj7 chord on the piano
Play C, E, G and B together. In root position C is at the bottom; the next note is 4 half steps higher, and the one after that 3 half steps above it. Press Play to hear the notes one at a time and then together.
Cmaj7 chord on the staff, with inversions
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts a different one at the bottom. The chord symbol after a slash names the bass note.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | C E G B | Cmaj7 |
| First inversion | E G B C | Cmaj7/E |
| Second inversion | G B C E | Cmaj7/G |
| Third inversion | B C E G | Cmaj7/B |
Cmaj7 chord on guitar
Each diagram shows the six strings from the low E on the left to the high E on the right. A dot is a fretted note, o is an open string, × is a string you do not play, and a bar across the strings is a barre held with one finger.
What is a major seventh chord?
A major seventh chord has four notes: a root, a major third, a perfect fifth and a major seventh (11 half steps above the root). It is a major chord with a note one half step below the octave added on top.
Smooth, dreamy and a little wistful. The major seventh sits very close to the octave, which gives the chord a glassy, floating quality that is stable but rich.
Where you hear major seventh chords
It is the I and IV chord of a major key when seventh chords are used, so you hear it as a home chord in jazz, soul, bossa nova and soft pop. It often ends a ii-V-I progression, such as Dm7, G7, Cmaj7.
Tip: Play the major chord and add the note just a half step below the root's octave. If it clashes, check that you did not play the lower seventh by mistake.
Ways this chord type is written (shown for C): Cmaj7, CM7, CΔ7, CΔ.
Which keys have the Cmaj7 chord?
Cmaj7 is built only from notes of these keys, so it appears in them naturally. The Roman numeral is its place in the key.
Check yourself
1. Which note is the third of the Cmaj7 chord?
Answer: E. Cmaj7 is built root, third, fifth (and more): C, E, G and B. The second note, E, is the third.
2. What is the bass note of Cmaj7/E?
Answer: E. A slash chord names its bass note after the slash. Cmaj7/E is the first inversion, with E at the bottom.
3. How many half steps are there from C up to E in this chord?
Answer: 4. C to E is a major third, which is 4 half steps.
Other C chords
Major Seventh chords in every key
See also: piano chord chart, chord inversions, chord progressions.