C# Major Seventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C# Major Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C#, F, G#, C
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M
Formula: 2W-WH-2W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: maj7, Δ, ma7, M7, Maj7, ^7
The C# Major Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (C#, F, G#, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C# Major Seventh Arpeggio
Play the C# Major Seventh arpeggio whenever a C# Major Seventh chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The C# Major Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (C#, F, G#, C) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play C# Major Seventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your C# Major Seventh arpeggio at fret 9 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 4th fret on the A string. This 4-note arpeggio (C#, F, G#, C) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The C# Major Seventh arpeggio outlines a C# major chord and works perfectly over C#, C#maj7, C#6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Practice the C# Major Seventh arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the F an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3M, 5P, 7M) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the C# Major Seventh arpeggio using string skipping — jump over a string between each note to create wider intervals. This technique produces a more pianistic, open sound compared to sweep picking and develops precise right-hand accuracy.
Related Resources
Explore C# Major Seventh in Other Tunings
- C# Major Seventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Major Seventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- C# Major Seventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- C# Major Seventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- C# Major Seventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- C# Major Seventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- C# Major Seventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- C# Major Seventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- C# Major Seventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- C# Major Seventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- C# Major Seventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- C# Major Seventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- C# Major Seventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Major Seventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)