Guitar Cmaj7 chord diagram
Cmaj7 is one of the essential Guitar chords. On Chordier, this chord appears in 34 different songs. On this page, you can find how to play Cmaj7, alternative positions, and core chord transitions.
To play Cmaj7, follow these steps: Place index finger on D string fret 2. Place middle finger on E string fret 3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
Tips
- Place D string with your index finger and E string with your middle finger with a vertical finger angle so nearby strings ring clearly without buzz.
- On D string, press fret 2 with your index finger close to the fret wire (not on top) for a cleaner tone.
- Finger choices on Cmaj7 can be optimized for the next chord. For example, when moving from Cmaj7 to Gm7, using on E string, use your ring finger, on A string, use your pinky, and on D string, use your middle finger helps preserve hand position with minimal movement.
- To play Cmaj7 cleanly, every involved string should ring clearly. Make sure both fretted strings (E string, A string, and D string) and open strings sound clean. After shaping the chord, pluck each string one by one and confirm there is no muted or buzzing note.
Chord Theory
- Notes
- C - E - G - B
- Intervals
- 1 - 3 - 5 - 7
- Chord Type
- Major 7 — warm and lush
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Voicings
- 7
Alternative Positions
Different ways to play Cmaj7 on the fretboard, from beginner-friendly to advanced voicings.
Guitar Cmaj7 chord diagramx-2-2-4-1-3
Guitar Cmaj7 chord diagramx-3-2-4-1-3
Guitar Cmaj7 chord diagramx-3-5-4-5-3
Guitar Cmaj7 chord diagramx-2-2-x-1-3
Easy Transition Chords
These chords have similar finger positions to Cmaj7, making them ideal for practice transitions.
1. Cmaj7 → C7/G chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to C7/G, follow these steps:
- Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on G string fret 3.
2. Cmaj7 → Em/C chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to Em/C, follow these steps:
- While playing Cmaj7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. Cmaj7 → A5 chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to A5, follow these steps:
- While playing Cmaj7, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
- Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
4. Cmaj7 → Em/A chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to Em/A, follow these steps:
- While playing Cmaj7, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
- Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
5. Cmaj7 → Em/C# chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to Em/C#, follow these steps:
- While playing Cmaj7, lift your middle finger from E string fret 3.
- Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 4.
6. Cmaj7 → Gm7 chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to Gm7, follow these steps:
- While playing Cmaj7, lift your index finger from D string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.
Most Common Transitions
The most frequent chord transitions from Cmaj7 across songs on this site.
1. Cmaj7 → C chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to C, follow these steps:
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cmaj7 use the transition to C at 38.5%. You can practice this transition in 14 different songs.
2. Cmaj7 → C7 chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to C7, follow these steps:
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on G string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cmaj7 use the transition to C7 at 14.2%. You can practice this transition in 8 different songs.
3. Cmaj7 → F chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to F, follow these steps:
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cmaj7 use the transition to F at 12.6%. You can practice this transition in 6 different songs.
4. Cmaj7 → Dm chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to Dm, follow these steps:
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cmaj7 use the transition to Dm at 9.7%. You can practice this transition in 7 different songs.
5. Cmaj7 → Am chord transition
To move from Cmaj7 to Am, follow these steps:
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
On Chordier, songs containing Cmaj7 use the transition to Am at 3.2%. You can practice this transition in 4 different songs.
Songs Using Cmaj7 Chord
Popular songs that feature the Cmaj7 chord, perfect for practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cmaj7 suitable for beginners on Guitar?
Cmaj7 works well for beginner-level Guitar practice. It uses a 2-fret reach. Focus on finger placement first, then increase speed.
Any beginner-friendly alternative for Cmaj7?
Cmaj7 has a more accessible version for Guitar players. The alternative voicing uses fingering x-2-2-x-1-3. It is a practical bridge between beginner and full voicings.
Which chords pair well with Cmaj7 on Guitar?
Cmaj7 works well with C and C7 on Guitar. Based on our catalog data, transitions from Cmaj7 to C account for 38.5% (95 total changes in 14 songs), and transitions to C7 account for 14.2% (35 total changes in 8 songs).
Which songs include Cmaj7?
John Lennon - Imagine Chords is one of 8 songs featuring the Cmaj7 chord.