C#maj7 Guitar Chord (C Sharp Major 7th)

Q: What notes are in the C#maj7 chord?

C♯maj7 has 4 notes: C♯, E♯, G♯ and B♯ . Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 7: C♯ is the root, E♯ a major 3rd, G♯ a perfect 5th and B♯ a major 7th above it. E♯ is the same key as F and B♯ is the same key as C.

Q: How do you play C#maj7 on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is x43111 (at the 1st fret). Lay your index finger (1) flat across the strings from the G (3rd) to the high E (1st) string at the 1st fret (a barre). Put your little finger (4) on the 4th fret of the A (5th) string. Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string. Don't play the low E (6th) string (marked X). Strum from the A (5th) string down (5 strings).

The C#maj7 guitar chord (C sharp major 7th, also written D♭maj7) has 4 notes: C♯, E♯, G♯ and B♯. Below you'll find 4 shapes with diagrams, how to play it step by step, easier options, the keys it belongs to and common progressions that use it.

x43111 · at the 1st fret

Notes: C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7
Type: major 7th
Also written: D♭maj7
Difficulty: medium

Transpose a song

All 4 ways to play C#maj7 on guitar

x43111 at the 1st fret
x46564 at the 4th fret
xxx668 at the 6th fret
9-x-10-10-9-x at the 9th fret

Diagrams: strings run from the lowest on the left; X = don't play, O = open string, numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger).

How to play C#maj7 on guitar

Main shape: x43111 (at the 1st fret).

Lay your index finger (1) flat across the strings from the G (3rd) to the high E (1st) string at the 1st fret (a barre).
Put your little finger (4) on the 4th fret of the A (5th) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string.
Don't play the low E (6th) string (marked X).
Strum from the A (5th) string down (5 strings).

C#maj7 notes and intervals

Note	Formula	Interval from the root
C♯	1	root
E♯ (= F)	3	major 3rd
G♯	5	perfect 5th
B♯ (= C)	7	major 7th

Inversions: the same notes with another one in the bass, written as slash chords: C♯maj7/E♯ (1st inversion), C♯maj7/G♯ (2nd inversion) and C♯maj7/B♯ (3rd inversion).

C#maj7, C♯M7 and C♯Δ7 are three ways to write the same major 7th chord. Don't confuse it with C♯m7 (small "m": minor 7th) or C♯7 (dominant 7th).

Easier ways to play C#maj7

Put a capo on the 1st fret and play the open Cmaj7 shape: it sounds as C♯maj7.
E♯m uses E♯, G♯ and B♯, all notes of C♯maj7; playing it leaves out C♯.
In rock songs, the C♯5 power chord (C♯ and G♯ only) can stand in: it has no 3rd, so it is neither major nor minor.

C#maj7 on piano and ukulele

C♯maj7 on piano C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯
C♯maj7 on ukulele 1113

Which keys use C#maj7?

C♯maj7 is one of the basic chords of 4 keys. Its number (Roman numeral) and job change with the key:

Key	Written	Numeral	Function
A♭ major	D♭maj7	IVmaj7	predominant
F minor	D♭maj7	VImaj7	tonic or predominant
D♭ major	D♭maj7	Imaj7	tonic
B♭ minor	D♭maj7	IIImaj7	tonic

Progressions with C#maj7

ii–V–I in D♭ major: E♭m7 – A♭7 – D♭maj7 A cadence that is extremely common in jazz.

Transpose C#maj7

Move the chord up or down by semitones to see its name and notes in another key.

C♯maj7 C♯ E♯ G♯ B♯ original

Major 7th chords on every root: A♭maj7 Amaj7 B♭maj7 Bmaj7 Cmaj7 C♯maj7 Dmaj7 E♭maj7 Emaj7 Fmaj7 F♯maj7 Gmaj7

Frequently asked questions

Is C#maj7 the same as Dbmaj7?

Yes. C♯ and D♭ are two names for the same note (the same piano key and the same fret), so C♯maj7 and D♭maj7 sound the same and use the same shapes. The name follows the key: D♭maj7 in A♭ major, F minor and D♭ major.

What notes are in the C#maj7 chord?

C♯maj7 has 4 notes: C♯, E♯, G♯ and B♯. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 7: C♯ is the root, E♯ a major 3rd, G♯ a perfect 5th and B♯ a major 7th above it. E♯ is the same key as F and B♯ is the same key as C.

What key is C#maj7 in?

Written D♭maj7, it is IVmaj7 in A♭ major, VImaj7 in F minor, Imaj7 in D♭ major and IIImaj7 in B♭ minor. The other 7th chords of A♭ major are A♭maj7, B♭m7, Cm7, E♭7, Fm7 and Gm7♭5.

How do you play C#maj7 on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is x43111 (at the 1st fret).

Lay your index finger (1) flat across the strings from the G (3rd) to the high E (1st) string at the 1st fret (a barre).
Put your little finger (4) on the 4th fret of the A (5th) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string.
Don't play the low E (6th) string (marked X).
Strum from the A (5th) string down (5 strings).

Is C#maj7 hard to play on guitar?

It is a medium chord: the easiest shape (xxx668) needs a barre across 2 strings. Put a capo on the 1st fret and play the open Cmaj7 shape: it sounds as C♯maj7. (Difficulty here is a rough guide based on barres, stretches and the number of fingers.)

Is there an easy way to play C#maj7?

Put a capo on the 1st fret and play the open Cmaj7 shape: it sounds as C♯maj7.
E♯m uses E♯, G♯ and B♯, all notes of C♯maj7; playing it leaves out C♯.
In rock songs, the C♯5 power chord (C♯ and G♯ only) can stand in: it has no 3rd, so it is neither major nor minor.

More chords

Last updated: October 12, 2026