C Major 7th Guitar Chord — Open D
Guitar chord voicings in Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
C Major 7th Voicings in Open D
C Major 7th filtered by fret:
C Major 7th in Open D Tuning — Guide
The C Major 7th chord is made up of the following notes: C, E, G, B.
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M.
The C Major 7th chord in Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) requires different fingerings than standard tuning.
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
On guitar, the most common voicing for C maj7 is x-3-2-0-0-0 — open position that simply removes one finger from the standard C major. This is one of the fundamental shapes every guitarist should memorize early on, as it appears in countless songs and serves as a building block for more complex voicings up the neck.
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.