Cmaj7 Piano Chord (C Major 7th)

Q: What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?

Cmaj7 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.

The Cmaj7 piano chord (C major 7th) has 4 notes: C, E, G and B. Below you'll find root position and 3 inversions with diagrams, how to play it step by step, the keys it belongs to and common progressions that use it.

Root position: C E G B

Notes: C – E – G – B
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7
Type: major 7th

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Cmaj7 on piano: root position and inversions

Root position C – E – G – B
1st inversion E – G – B – C
2nd inversion G – B – C – E
3rd inversion B – C – E – G

How to play Cmaj7 on piano

C is the white key just left of a group of two black keys. That is the root.
Add E (major 3rd above), G (perfect 5th above) and B (major 7th above): press C, E, G and B together.
With 4 notes, you can also play the root with your left hand and the other notes with your right.
For a smoother change between chords, try an inversion (the same notes with a different one at the bottom), shown above.

Cmaj7 notes and intervals

Note	Formula	Interval from the root
C	1	root
E	3	major 3rd
G	5	perfect 5th
B	7	major 7th

Inversions: the same notes with another one in the bass, written as slash chords: Cmaj7/E (1st inversion), Cmaj7/G (2nd inversion) and Cmaj7/B (3rd inversion).

Cmaj7, CM7 and CΔ7 are three ways to write the same major 7th chord. Don't confuse it with Cm7 (small "m": minor 7th) or C7 (dominant 7th).

Cmaj7 on guitar and ukulele

Cmaj7 guitar chord x32000
Cmaj7 on ukulele 0002

Which keys use Cmaj7?

Cmaj7 is one of the basic chords of 4 keys. Its number (Roman numeral) and job change with the key:

Key	Written	Numeral	Function
C major	Cmaj7	Imaj7	tonic
A minor	Cmaj7	IIImaj7	tonic
G major	Cmaj7	IVmaj7	predominant
E minor	Cmaj7	VImaj7	tonic or predominant

Progressions with Cmaj7

ii–V–I in C major: Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 A cadence that is extremely common in jazz.

Transpose Cmaj7

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

Cmaj7 C E G B original

Major 7th chords on every root: Gmaj7A♭maj7Amaj7B♭maj7Bmaj7Cmaj7C♯maj7Dmaj7E♭maj7Emaj7Fmaj7F♯maj7

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Cmaj7 chord?

Cmaj7 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.

How do you play Cmaj7 on piano?

C is the white key just left of a group of two black keys. From there, press C, E, G and B together. With four or more notes, you can also play the root with your left hand and the other notes with your right.

What chords go with Cmaj7?

Cmaj7 is Imaj7 in C major, IIImaj7 in A minor, IVmaj7 in G major and VImaj7 in E minor. The other 7th chords of C major are Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7 and Bm7♭5.

What is a major 7th chord?

A major 7th chord is a major chord plus a major 7th (1–3–5–7). It is written maj7, M7 or Δ7. In a major key, the I and IV chords are major 7ths.

What are the inversions of Cmaj7?

Root position: C – E – G – B; 1st inversion: E – G – B – C; 2nd inversion: G – B – C – E; 3rd inversion: B – C – E – G (lowest note first). Each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave; the chord keeps its name.

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Last updated: October 12, 2026