Guitar chord guide
C Major 7 Guitar Chord
Cmaj7 is a smooth, spacious extension of C major. The open B adds colour without making the shape harder than a basic C chord.
Fingerings
How to play Cmaj7
Why this shape works
Removing the first finger from C major reveals the major seventh B, producing a soft unresolved shimmer.
Clean fingering tip
Compare C and Cmaj7 by lifting only the first finger. Train your ear to recognise the change from root to major seventh.
Common mistake
The open B and high E must ring. Keep the second finger arched above both strings.
Check every string
Pick from the lowest included string to the highest. A note should either ring clearly or be deliberately muted. Accidental half-muted strings are what make a chord feel weak.
Connected learning