C major 7th chord on piano
The C major 7th chord is C–E–G–B. Tap the keys below to hear it.
Cmaj7C · E · G · B
Tap the keys to hear them
Cmaj7 adds a major 7th, B, onto the C triad. The addition of this major 7th gives the chord its bright but unresolved glow.
How the C major 7th chord is built
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-2-3-5 land for Cmaj7.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | C – E – G – B | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion | E – G – B – C | 1-2-4-5 | 5-4-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion | G – B – C – E | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion | B – C – E – G | 1-2-4-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 4 shapes of Cmaj7.
Where Cmaj7 shows up
Cmaj7 is the home chord (I) of C major played with its major seventh on top; the key has no sharps or flats. Everywhere the plain C triad works, Cmaj7 works with extra colour, and it shares its scale with A minor.
It closes the classic ii–V–I: Dm7–G7–Cmaj7.
Common questions
What notes are in the C major 7th chord?
The C major 7th chord is made up of C, E, G, B. All white keys: start on C, skip a key to E, skip another to G, and the shape is under your hand.
What fingers should I use to play Cmaj7 on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). C, E, G, B are all white keys; find C just left of the pair of black keys, and the rest of the shape follows.
What are the seventh chords in the key of C major?
Building a seventh on each degree of the C major scale gives Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7, Bm7b5. Cmaj7 is the first of them, the I maj7.
When should I play Cmaj7 instead of C major?
They are interchangeable in most progressions: Cmaj7 is the C triad with B added on top. Reach for Cmaj7 when the moment calls for a softer, jazzier landing; reach for the plain triad when the music needs directness.
More C chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-19