C♯ Major 7th Guitar Chord (C♯maj7)
C♯ major 7th is a four-note chord built from C♯ (the root), E♯ (the major third), G♯ (the perfect fifth), and B♯ (the major seventh). It sounds lush and suspended in mid-air: the major seventh sits one fret below the root and gives the chord its silky shimmer. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
C♯maj7 chord shapes — standard tuning
How to play it
Lay your index finger flat across the top 3 strings (from the G (3rd) string up) at fret 1 — that barre is the backbone of this C♯maj7 shape. Then add your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 3 and your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | C♯ |
| 3 | major third | E♯ (same pitch as F) |
| 5 | perfect fifth | G♯ |
| 7 | major seventh | B♯ (same pitch as C) |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see C♯maj7 in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More C♯ chords
Nearby major 7th chords
C♯maj7 FAQ
What notes are in C♯maj7?
C♯maj7 contains C♯, E♯, G♯, and B♯ — the root (C♯), the major third, the perfect fifth, and the major seventh.
Is C♯maj7 a barre chord?
The most common C♯maj7 shape (x-4-3-1-1-1) is a barre chord — your index finger bars fret 1 across 3 strings. There is no standard open-position shape for this chord in standard tuning, but the diagrams above include every practical alternative up the neck.
What is the easiest way to play C♯maj7 on guitar?
Start with the barre · 1fr shape x-4-3-1-1-1. Lay your index finger flat across the top 3 strings (from the G (3rd) string up) at fret 1 — that barre is the backbone of this C♯maj7 shape. Then add your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 3 and your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.