CifraLab

Cmaj7 Guitar Chord

Cmaj7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

Back to Chord Dictionary
Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
Cmaj7Guitar fingering diagram for Cmaj71234×32STRING6ª×5ªC4ªE3ªG2ªB1ªE
View HD sheet

What sets Cmaj7 apart

The notes of Cmaj7 are C, E, G and B. C is the root, E the major third, G the fifth and B the major seventh.

String by string, low to high, it plays C, E, G, B and E. E appears twice in the main shape, and it is the chord's major third. It runs from C on string 5 up to E on string 1.

The open strings add notes to Cmaj7 too. String 3 gives G, string 2 gives B and string 1 gives E. Avoid string 6. Your hand covers two frets, from 2 to 3. There is one more position, starting at fret 3.

Change only string 2 in Cmaj7 and you have C. Inside Cmaj7 sits a complete Em chord, made of E, G and B. Moving to Em, you keep one finger down.

You will find Cmaj7 in four different keys. In C major it is the I, in G major the IV and in E minor the VI. The rest appear in the key list. Further down there is a song that uses it.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702Em Em - C - Am - B7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Cmaj7)

Formula: Major Seventh (1 - 3 - 5 - 7)
Constituent chord intervals:

C 1E 3G 5B 7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Cmaj7:

01

Standard

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Finger 3
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 2
EDegree 3
3rd String (G)
○Open
GDegree 5
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 7
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 3

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger. Play open: 3rd String (G), 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

02

Barre 3

Barre fret 3
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Barre
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 5
GDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 4
BDegree 7
2nd String (B)
Fret 5
EDegree 3
1st String (High E)
Fret 3Barre
GDegree 5

Placement tip: Barre fret 3. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 5, 3rd String (G) at fret 4, 2nd String (B) at fret 5. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Cmaj7)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets2 to 3
Fretting fingers2
Open3rd, 2nd, and 1st
Muted6th

What to check

The open 3rd string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Cmaj7

Listen: Cmaj7 → C · Em · Am

  1. Cmaj7
  2. C
  3. Cmaj7
  4. Em
  5. Cmaj7
  6. Am
Cmaj7 → C01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Cmaj7 → Em02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
Cmaj7 → Am03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Cmaj7 in every key

Cmaj7 sits in the scale of 4 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
2

Cmaj7 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleCmaj7 on four strings, with sound.BassCmaj7 as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (Cmaj7)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Imagine"John Lennon • 1971Heard in the verse (C - Cmaj7 - F).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Cmaj7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Cmaj7 chord?

To play the Cmaj7 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Cmaj7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Cmaj7 chord is its root note: C. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Cmaj7 chord and what is its formula?

The Cmaj7 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 formula (Major Seventh). Its constituent pitches are C, E, G, B.

How do you prevent the Cmaj7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Cmaj7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

What famous songs use the Cmaj7 chord?

"Imagine" (John Lennon, 1971). Heard in the verse (C - Cmaj7 - F).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Cmaj7 chord diagram

Cmaj7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

Thanks for studying with CifraLab

If this chord helped you, support us with a coffee on Ko-fi.

Buy a coffee

Other chords in the C family:

Chord C Chord C#m Chord Cm Chord C7 Chord C#m7 Chord Cm7 Chord Csus2 Chord Csus4