C♯ major seventh (C♯maj7) chord on mandolin

The C♯ major seventh chord (C♯maj7) is a major seventh chord (a major triad plus a major seventh), made of four notes: C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ major seventh (D♭maj7).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 6easy

Position 8medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the C♯maj7 chord sounds like

The major seventh chord sounds soft, dreamy and a little jazzy. The major seventh sits a half step below the root, so it rubs gently against it without needing to resolve.

Notes of the C♯maj7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C♯	root
3	E♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	G♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	B♯	major seventh (11 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 4, ring finger (G♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, middle finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 3, index finger (E♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 5, little finger (B♯3)

Position 6, barre at fret 6

String 1 (E): fret 8, little finger (B♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 8, ring finger (E♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, index finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, index finger (C♯4)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 6; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 8

String 1 (E): fret 8, index finger (B♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 11, little finger (G♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 11, little finger (C♯5)
String 4 (G): fret 10, ring finger (E♯4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯maj7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

B♭m7 – relative minor seventh: three shared notes
Fm7 – mediant minor seventh: three shared notes
C♯6 – another tonic colour, more vintage and swingy

Simpler versions

C♯ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

C♯maj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯maj7 chord?

C♯, E♯, G♯, B♯. The root is C♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, major seventh.

What is the easiest way to play C♯maj7 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Position 6”, rated easy. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some C♯maj7 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (G♯) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the C♯maj7 chord written?

The chord symbol is C♯maj7 (also written C#maj7), and its full name is C♯ major seventh.