C Major 7th Bass Chord
All positions and voicings on the fretboard
C Major 7th filtered by fret:
No playable voicings found for this chord on bass. This chord type requires more notes than the bass guitar's 4 strings can voice. Try a simpler chord type.
C Major 7th — chord details
The C Major 7th chord is made up of the following notes: C, E, G, B.
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M.
The diagrams above show every voicing and chord variation for C Major 7th on bass guitar. Use the fret filter to narrow down voicings within a specific fret range — ideal for bass lines, chord fills, and double stops.
C major seventh combines a major triad with a major seventh interval, yielding the notes C, E, G, B (intervals 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M). The major seventh sits just a half step below the octave, creating a lush, dreamy dissonance that sounds sophisticated rather than tense. This chord is the signature sound of bossa nova, smooth jazz, and neo-soul, evoking warmth, nostalgia, and romantic elegance.
How to Play C Major 7th
C maj7 can be voiced in multiple ways depending on your instrument and musical context. Experiment with different inversions and positions to find voicings that connect smoothly to surrounding chords in your progression.
C Major 7th in Progressions
C major seventh typically serves as the Imaj7 in C major or the IVmaj7 in G major. These are the two diatonic positions where major seventh chords naturally occur, giving songs a polished, sophisticated character.
Common Substitutions
C6, Cmaj9, or Cadd9 can replace the major seventh, offering varying levels of color and complexity.
Difficulty: On guitar, this chord has a comfortable open voicing — suitable for beginners and widely used in popular songs.