Cmaj7 chord (C major seventh) on bass
Cmaj7 (C major seventh) has four notes: C, E, G and B. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, 7. In major keys, Cmaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in C major and the IVmaj7 in G major.
How to play Cmaj7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on D, 2 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Cmaj7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | CM7, CΔ7, CΔ |
| Notes | C E G B |
| Formula | 1 3 5 7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh |
| Type | Major seventh chord |
Cmaj7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (3), fret 3 G (5), fret 7 B (7), fret 8 C (1), fret 12 E (3), fret 15 G (5), fret 19 B (7), fret 20 C (1), fret 24 E (3).
- A string: fret 2 B (7), fret 3 C (1), fret 7 E (3), fret 10 G (5), fret 14 B (7), fret 15 C (1), fret 19 E (3), fret 22 G (5).
- D string: fret 2 E (3), fret 5 G (5), fret 9 B (7), fret 10 C (1), fret 14 E (3), fret 17 G (5), fret 21 B (7), fret 22 C (1).
- G string: fret 0 G (5), fret 4 B (7), fret 5 C (1), fret 9 E (3), fret 12 G (5), fret 16 B (7), fret 17 C (1), fret 21 E (3), fret 24 G (5).
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Questions
What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?
Cmaj7 (C major seventh) has four notes: C, E, G and B. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, 7. C is the root, E is the major third, G is the perfect fifth and B is the major seventh.
How do you play Cmaj7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 8. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is Cmaj7 in?
In major keys, Cmaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in C major and the IVmaj7 in G major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Cmaj7 and C?
Cmaj7 is C (C, E and G) with a major 7th added: B.