The CMaj7 chord (also known as C major 7 and Câ–³7), has a distinctive and unique tone. It has a warm, open-ended tone that suggests a question needs to be posed or answered.
The notes in CMaj7 are:
B
G
E
C
The root of a chord ultimately defines the harmony. However, many arpeggios contain other chords, which you can hint at or superimpose over the same chord. For instance, if we go from the second note, we get an E minor triad.
Bass
Treble
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a succession of individual notes that spell the chord. Each note spells the chord and is called a chord tone.
The Major Scale
The Major scale is perfect to use over CMaj7
CMaj7 Backing Track
Practice playing along to CMaj7 using The Major Scale. Get creative and see what lines you can play over it. Really try to internalise the sound to train your ear.
If you’re struggling to come up with different ideas, my books contain lots of different ways you can play intervals, scales, melodies and more.
CMaj7 Inversions
1st Inversion - CMaj7/E
2nd Inversion - CMaj7/G
3rd Inversion - Cmaj7/B
Drop Voicings
4 Way Close
Drop 2
We simply move the 2 voice an octave down.
Drop 3
For Drop 3, we simply move the 3rd voice down an octave.
Drop 2 + 3
For drop 2+3, we move the 2nd + 3rd voices down an octave.
Drop 2 + 4
For Drop 2+4, we move the 2nd + 4th voice down an octave.
These were the drop voicings for the standard voicing, however, you can also make the 1st, 2nd and 3rd inversions into drop voicings too. Rick Beato does a pretty good lesson on this if you want to learn more about drop voicings!
If You'd Like to Know More About Theory...Try My Books!
Other Chord Extensions
| Chord Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Major Chords | |
| CMaj7 | C, E, G, B |
| CMaj9 | C, E, G, B, D |
| CMaj#11 | C, E, G, B, F# |
| CMaj13 | C, E, G, B, A |
| CMaj9(add13) | C, E, G, B, D, A |
| Minor Chords | |
| Cmin7 | C, Eb, G, Bb |
| Cmin9 | C, Eb, G, Bb, D |
| Cmin11 | C, Eb, G, Bb, F |
| Cmin13 | C, Eb, G, Bb, A |
| Dominant Chords | |
| C7 | C, E, G, Bb |
| C9 | C, E, G, Bb, D |
| C11 | C, E, G, Bb, F |
| C13 | C, E, G, Bb, A |
| Half Diminished Chords | |
| C-7b5 | C, Eb, Gb, Bb |
Read my ultimate guide on how to learn the bass guitar in the link below!
Howard Head
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