6 String Freedom

Part 8: Add the seventh, one ingredient at a time · Lesson 069 / 117

Major seventh: extend a major triad

Today’s one thing

Build Cmaj7 by adding B to C–E–G.

Cmaj7 contains C, E, G and B. It combines a major triad with a major seventh: 1–3–5–7.

The chord symbol's “maj” describes the seventh quality in this standard symbol. A plain C is already a major triad; adding maj7 specifies the major seventh above its root. Do not confuse Cmaj7 with C7, which we will build separately.

An accessible open grip is x32000: C–E–G–B–E. It repeats E while including all four distinct ingredients. Compare it with open C x32010, where the B-string note is C rather than B. Not every physical alteration to a grip corresponds one-for-one with the theoretical recipe, so inspect the actual notes.

Pick the four chord tones individually before strumming. The added seventh should be an ingredient you can find and name, not only a colour associated with a shape.

Hear it

Cmaj7

Audio file

Four-beat count-in · 60 BPM · Warm sampled electric guitar. Listen once before playing along.

A concrete example

Cmaj7 = C–E–G–B. Open grip x32000 sounds C–E–G–B–E.

C chordCEADGBe×Cmaj7 chordCmaj7EADGBe×
Low E is left; high E is right. Open circles mean open strings; × means leave the string silent. Use relaxed, comfortable voicings.

Fretboard view

High E (string 1) is the top line, matching guitar tablature. Select a note to hear it.

Root / tonicChord toneTargetChanged / colour noteOther note
Cmaj7: C–E–G–B
The open x32000 guitar grip contains all four chord tones.
Guitar fretboard diagram: Cmaj7: C–E–G–B. High E string on top, frets 0 to 3. Notes C, E, G, B, E.
Find the new major seventh B on the open B string.
Play notes from a larger button list

One small map at a time. Hear the notes, then play the example without looking.

Try it, slowly

  1. Build C major verbally.
  2. Add B and identify its interval from C.
  3. Compare open C with Cmaj7, then pick the B-string note to hear what changed in this voicing.

Check one idea

Does Cmaj7 mean C minor with a seventh?

Show the explanation

No. Cmaj7 uses a major triad and major seventh. A minor triad would need Eb rather than E.

A good place to stop

You can name all four Cmaj7 ingredients and locate the seventh.

Return to the example after a short break. A clear explanation matters more than speed.