Cmaj7

Cmaj7, or C major seventh, is a type of seventh chord built on the C major triad. It consists of the notes C, E, G, and B, arranged as the root, major third, perfect fifth, and major seventh above C. In tonal theory, it is the Imaj7 chord in the key of C major and is commonly written as CMaj7 or Cmaj7. The interval from the root to the seventh is a major seventh (11 semitones).

Cmaj7 differs from a C7 chord in that it uses a major seventh (B) rather than a minor seventh (Bb). This gives Cmaj7 a smoother, more consonant, jazzy color compared with the bluesy or tense color of C7, which functions as a dominant chord. The CMaj7 chord is typically heard as a tonic color in the key of C major, providing a stable yet lush sound.

Voicings and playing approaches vary by instrument. On piano, a basic voicing is C-E-G-B in root position, with many common inversions and extended voicings (drop-2, drop-3) used for different textures. On guitar, open-position shapes like x32000 are widely used, along with barre and other movable shapes. CMaj7 is a versatile chord in jazz, pop, and folk, frequently appearing in progressions such as I-vi-ii-V (Cmaj7 - Am7 - Dm7 - G7) or as a tonic variant in longer harmonic movements.