The C Major Seventh Chord

Cmaj7

Cmaj7 Arpeggio - All Notes

Cmaj7

The C Major Seventh chord is a well loved and much used chord in many styles of music.

Because it is very easy to play in the open position on guitar, many beginner-guitarists can enjoy the warmth and wealth of this romantic sounding chord.

This chord is very common in jazz and related styles, like R&B, soul, neo-soul. You will also find it in many pop songs.

The most common voicings on guitar are known as the drop 2, drop 3 and drop 2-4 voicings. There are several closed seventh chord voicings which are playable on guitar, although some voicings require large and agile hands because of the wide fingerings necessary. Also check out and enjoy these unusual voicings.

Arpeggio

The Cmaj7 arpeggio has a pleasing sound and is extremely useable in a variety of contexts. The most obvious way to use the arpeggio is on a Cmaj7 chord, but another very useful application is to use the arpeggio on an Am7 chord.

Beginner's Luck

Backing Tracks

Practice everything you learn by jamming along with these Cmaj7 backing tracks and Am7 backing tracks.

Chord Scales and Other Note Choices

Cmaj7 Chord Scales

Major Scale: C, G

Harmonic Minor: E

Melodic Minor #4: F

Gypsy Minor: E, F

Harmonic Lydian: C, F

Messiaen M3: C, A

Messiaen M4: F

Messiaen M7: E, F

Jazz Major: C, G

Jazz Major b3: C, G

Jazz Dominant: C, D, G

Jazz Dorian: A, D

Jazz Melodic Minor: E

Other options:
  • C major pentatonic 
    • you will be missing the 7th interval
  • Em pentatonic
    • Very effective sound; no root note 'C', but it gives you the major 7th, the 9th and the 13th intervals, which results in a more jazzy sound. Try mixing it with the Cmaj7 arpeggio and the C major pentatonic scale.
  • Bm pentatonic
    • No root and no 5th but it has the 7th, 9th, 3rd, #11, and 13th intervals. Very jazzy. 

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