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C♯m(maj7)

Character: mysterious

  1. C♯Rtriad
  2. E♭3triad
  3. G♯5triad
  4. B♯7add
Open C♯m(maj7) in the chord libraryDownload the C♯m(maj7) chart (PDF)
Voicings

12 ways to play C♯m(maj7)

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

  • Triad note
  • Substitute
  • Added
  • Anchored root
  • Bass
  • Doubling
CC shape 3rd inversion C♯m(maj7)/B♯
1 2 3 4 R 5 ♭3 7

Frets x 3 2 1 2 xNotes B♯ E G♯ C♯Intervals 7 ♭3 5 1Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

CC shape Root position C♯m(maj7)
1 2 3 4 7 5 ♭3 R ♭3

Frets x 4 2 1 1 0Notes C♯ E G♯ B♯Intervals 1 ♭3 5 7Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 7th gets a string of its own.

CC shape 1st inversion C♯m(maj7)/E
1 2 3 4 5 5 R 7 ♭3 ♭3

Frets x x 2 5 2 0Notes E B♯ C♯Intervals ♭3 7 1Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape Root position C♯m(maj7)
1 2 3 4 5 5 7 ♭3 R ♭3 R

Frets x 4 2 5 2 0Notes C♯ E B♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

CC shape 2nd inversion C♯m(maj7)/G♯
1 2 3 4 5 7 ♭3 R 5 ♭3 R

Frets 4 4 2 5 2 0Notes G♯ C♯ E B♯Intervals 5 1 ♭3 7Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

AA shape Root position C♯m(maj7)
4 5 6 7 8 5 7 ♭3 R

Frets x x x 6 5 8Notes C♯ E B♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

AA shape 2nd inversion AnchoredC♯m(maj7)
4 5 6 7 R ♭3 7 5 R 5

Frets x 4 6 5 5 4Notes C♯ G♯ B♯ EIntervals 1 5 7 ♭3Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 7th takes the root’s string.

GG shape 3rd inversion C♯m(maj7)/B♯
6 7 8 9 R 5 ♭3 7

Frets 8 7 6 6 x xNotes B♯ E G♯ C♯Intervals 7 ♭3 5 1Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position C♯m(maj7)
6 7 8 9 10 5 7 ♭3 R ♭3 5 ♭3

Frets 9 7 10 9 9 0Notes C♯ E B♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 3rd inversion C♯m(maj7)/B♯
9 10 11 12 R 5 ♭3 7

Frets x x 10 9 9 9Notes B♯ E G♯ C♯Intervals 7 ♭3 5 1Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 7th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position C♯m(maj7)
9 10 11 12 13 5 7 ♭3 R ♭3 5 R

Frets 9 11 11 9 13 0Notes C♯ E B♯Intervals 1 ♭3 7Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredC♯m(maj7)
9 10 11 12 R ♭3 7 5 R ♭3 5

Frets 9 11 10 9 9 0Notes C♯ G♯ B♯ EIntervals 1 5 7 ♭3Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 7th takes the root’s string.

The rules

The construction rules C♯m(maj7) follows

  1. Start from a triad

    Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.

  2. A third on top makes a 7th chord

    A major 7th over a major triad is maj7, a ♭7 is a dominant 7. Over minor you get m7 or m(maj7); over diminished, m7♭5 or the °7, whose 7th is lowered twice.

  3. On guitar, something has to give

    Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.

  4. The root can move down

    When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

Minor major 7th in every key

More chords on C♯

C♯m(maj7) chord questions

What notes are in C♯m(maj7)?

C♯m(maj7) is spelled C♯ E G♯ B♯: C♯ is the root, E is the ♭3rd, G♯ is the 5th, B♯ is the 7th.

What is the formula of C♯m(maj7)?

1 ♭3 5 7. It is a C♯ minor triad with the 7th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play C♯m(maj7) on guitar?

This page shows 12 voicings of C♯m(maj7), filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.