Which notes are in the C#maj7 chord?

C#maj7 contains the notes C#, F, G# and C. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – 7.

How many ways can you play C#maj7?

Minory lists 3 guitar fingerings for C#maj7, 2 of which are barre shapes. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.

Is the C#maj7 chord hard to play?

C#maj7 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.

Are C#maj7 and Dbmaj7 the same chord?

Yes. C#maj7 and Dbmaj7 are enharmonically identical — the spelling differs but the frets and keys are the same. Which name is used depends on the key of the piece.

C# major 7th · Guitar

C#maj7 Chord on Guitar

The C#maj7 chord (C# major 7th) is built from the notes C#, F, G# and C. 3 different guitar fingerings for it are shown below. The same chord is also written Dbmaj7; both spellings sound identical.

Chord diagrams

Position 1barre shape · starts at fret 1

Fingering

string 6 (E): muted
string 5 (A): fret 4 — little finger
string 4 (D): fret 3 — ring finger
string 3 (G): fret 1 — index finger
string 2 (B): fret 1 — index finger
string 1 (E): fret 1 — index finger

Position 2barre shape · starts at fret 4

Fingering

string 6 (E): muted
string 5 (A): fret 4 — index finger
string 4 (D): fret 6 — ring finger
string 3 (G): fret 5 — middle finger
string 2 (B): fret 6 — little finger
string 1 (E): fret 4 — index finger

Position 3starts at fret 8

Fingering

string 6 (E): muted
string 5 (A): muted
string 4 (D): fret 11 — little finger
string 3 (G): fret 10 — ring finger
string 2 (B): fret 9 — middle finger
string 1 (E): fret 8 — index finger

Notes in this chord

C♯
F
G♯
C

Degrees: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7

Also written: Dbmaj7

How to play

Every guitar shape for C#maj7 needs a barre, and the lowest one starts at fret 1. Keep the index finger straight and as close to the fret wire as possible, and let the wrist rather than the thumb supply the pressure.

Theory behind the chord

Major seventh chords keep the bright major triad but add the leading tone a semitone below the root. The result is the soft, floating sound heard throughout bossa nova, soul and neo-soul. On C#maj7 this structure sits on the root C#, so the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 map onto C#, F, G# and C.

Frequently asked questions

Which notes are in the C#maj7 chord?: C#maj7 contains the notes C#, F, G# and C. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – 7.
How many ways can you play C#maj7?: Minory lists 3 guitar fingerings for C#maj7, 2 of which are barre shapes. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.
Is the C#maj7 chord hard to play?: C#maj7 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.
Are C#maj7 and Dbmaj7 the same chord?: Yes. C#maj7 and Dbmaj7 are enharmonically identical — the spelling differs but the frets and keys are the same. Which name is used depends on the key of the piece.

Practise C#maj7 on your phone

Minory bundles the full chord library with a tuner, metronome and repertoire notebook — and it all works offline.