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Guitar chords · Minor major 7th

C♯m(maj7) chord on guitar (C#m(maj7))

C♯m(maj7) (C♯ minor major 7th) has four notes: C♯, E, G♯ and B♯ (played as C), the , ♭3, 5 and 7.

Shapes

How to play C♯m(maj7)

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

C♯m(maj7) has no common . Play it as the A shape at 4 or the E shape at fret 9. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 4

    4fr×R57♭35C♯G♯B♯EG♯
  • E shape · fret 9

    9frR57♭35RC♯G♯B♯EG♯C♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes C♯m(maj7) minor major 7th

A minor major puts a major 7th on a minor . The 5th between its ♭3rd and its 7th makes it dark and tense, the sound of spy themes and of the falling line Am, Am(maj7), Am7, Am6.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd and the 7th make C♯m(maj7) a minor major ; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. C♯Rroot
  2. E♭3essential
  3. G♯5optional
  4. B♯7essential
EADGBE0135791215C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯EG♯B♯EB♯EG♯B♯EG♯B♯EG♯B♯EG♯B♯EG♯B♯EG♯B♯E
  • C♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

C♯m(maj7) usually sits in a falling line from C♯m: C♯m, C♯m(maj7), C♯m7, C♯m6, as one voice steps down a at a time.

C♯m(maj7) and D♭m(maj7) are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with C♯m(maj7)

C♯m(maj7) belongs to one key: C♯ minor (i(maj7), ).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

C♯m(maj7) over another bass note

A keeps C♯m(maj7) on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • C♯m(maj7)/E

    C♯m(maj7) with its ♭3rd, E, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • C♯m(maj7)/G♯

    C♯m(maj7) with its 5th, G♯, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • C♯m(maj7)/B♯

    C♯m(maj7) with its 7th, B♯, in the bass: the third inversion.

Questions

C♯m(maj7), in short

What notes are in the C♯m(maj7) chord?
C♯m(maj7) (C♯ minor major 7th) has four notes: C♯, E, G♯ and B♯ (played as C), the , ♭3, 5 and 7.
How do you play C♯m(maj7) on guitar?
C♯m(maj7) has no common . Play it as the A shape at 4 or the E shape at fret 9.
What key is C♯m(maj7) in?
C♯m(maj7) belongs to one key: C♯ minor (i(maj7), ).
Is C♯m(maj7) the same as D♭m(maj7)?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. C♯m(maj7) is the spelling in C♯ minor. No key on the circle spells it D♭m(maj7), so you will rarely see that name.
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