All chords › C › Major-family

C Major-family Chords

Major seventh and the colours stacked on top of it. These are the chords that sound settled and bright rather than restless.

9 chord types · 148 playable voicings · frets 1–15 · 128 use an open string

128 of the 148 shapes below let at least one string ring open, which usually makes them easier to hold and fuller to hear than the barred equivalents. The rest are movable grips. In the keys you are most likely to meet them, these chords sit as the I of C, the IV of F, and the V of G.

Jump to: Cmaj7 · Cadd9 · C6 · Cmaj9 · Cmaj11 · Cmaj13 · C6/9 · Cmaj7add11 · Cmaj7add13

Cmaj7

CEGB
21 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
O
2
1
X
O
O
2
1
3
X
O
2
1
4
3
X
O
3
1
3
2
4
X
O
O
O
3
1
3
X
O
O
3
1
3
2
X
O
O
3
1
3
4
X
X
O
O
O
3
1
X
3
1
3
2
4
1
O
O
7
3
1
4
2
O
O
O
7
2
1
3
O
O
8
1
4
3
2
O
8
1
4
2
3
1
O
O
O
8
1
3
2
O
O
O
8
1
3
4
X
X
O
O
O
8
1
8
1
4
2
3
1
1
X
X
O
O
O
10
1
X
X
O
O
10
1
3
X
X
O
O
12
4
1
X
12
4
3
1
1
1

Cmaj7 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of C major, IV of G major, VI of E minor, III of A minor.

Progressions that actually use it: ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 (C major), Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 (C major), vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 (C major), i7 – VImaj7 – IIImaj7 – VII7 (E minor).

Fret and finger numbers for Cmaj7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 2 0 0 0– 2 1 – – –
X 3 2 0 0 3– 2 1 – – 3
X 3 2 4 0 3– 2 1 4 – 3
X 3 5 4 5 0– 1 3 2 4 –
X 3 5 0 0 0– 1 3 – – –
X 3 5 4 0 0– 1 3 2 – –
X 3 5 5 0 0– 1 3 4 – –
X 3 X 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
X 3 5 4 5 3– 1 3 2 4 1
8 7 9 0 0 73 1 4 – – 2
8 7 9 0 0 02 1 3 – – –
8 10 9 0 8 01 4 3 – 2 –
8 10 9 9 8 01 4 2 3 1 –
8 10 9 0 0 01 3 2 – – –
8 10 10 0 0 01 3 4 – – –
8 X X 0 0 01 – – – – –
8 10 9 9 8 81 4 2 3 1 1
X X 10 0 0 0– – 1 – – –
X X 10 0 0 12– – 1 – – 3
X 15 X 0 0 12– 4 – – – 1
X 15 14 12 12 12– 4 3 1 1 1

Cadd9

CEGD
22 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
O
3
1
X
O
O
2
1
3
X
O
2
1
3
4
X
O
O
O
3
1
2
X
O
O
3
1
3
2
X
O
3
1
3
4
2
X
O
O
3
1
3
2
X
O
3
1
3
4
2
X
O
O
O
3
1
3
X
O
O
X
O
3
1
X
O
O
X
5
4
1
O
5
4
1
1
1
1
O
O
O
7
2
1
3
O
O
7
2
1
3
4
O
8
T
3
2
1
1
O
O
O
8
T
3
1
O
O
8
T
3
2
1
X
O
O
X
O
8
1
X
O
O
O
8
1
2
X
X
8
3
2
1
4
X
O
O
X
12
4
1
X
O
O
O
13
3
1

Cadd9 turns up as the I, V, IV, VI chord across 6 keys: I of C major, V of F major, IV of G major, VI of E minor, III of A minor, VII of D minor.

Progressions that actually use it: Iadd9 – V – vi7 – IV (C major).

Fret and finger numbers for Cadd9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 0 0 1 0– 3 – – 1 –
X 3 2 0 3 0– 2 1 – 3 –
X 3 2 0 3 3– 2 1 – 3 4
X 3 0 0 3 0– 1 – – 2 –
X 3 0 0 5 3– 1 – – 3 2
X 3 0 5 5 3– 1 – 3 4 2
X 3 5 0 3 0– 1 3 – 2 –
X 3 5 5 3 0– 1 3 4 2 –
X 3 0 0 5 0– 1 – – 3 –
X 3 0 0 X 0– 1 – – – –
8 X 0 0 5 X4 – – – 1 –
8 5 5 5 5 04 1 1 1 1 –
8 7 0 0 8 02 1 – – 3 –
8 7 0 0 8 82 1 – – 3 4
8 10 0 9 8 8T 3 – 2 1 1
8 10 0 0 8 0T 3 – – 1 –
8 10 0 9 8 0T 3 – 2 1 –
8 X 0 0 X 01 – – – – –
8 X 0 0 8 01 – – – 2 –
X X 10 9 8 10– – 3 2 1 4
X 15 0 0 X 12– 4 – – – 1
X 15 0 0 13 0– 3 – – 1 –

C6

CEGA
19 shapes · open & play
X
3
2
2
1
4
X
O
X
2
2
1
4
X
O
2
2
1
3
4
X
O
3
1
2
3
4
O
O
5
4
1
1
1
O
5
4
1
1
1
1
O
O
O
7
2
1
3
X
X
7
2
4
1
3
O
8
T
3
2
1
1
O
O
O
8
1
3
2
O
O
8
T
3
2
1
O
O
O
8
1
3
4
O
O
8
1
2
3
4
O
X
O
X
O
8
1
O
X
O
O
8
1
2
X
X
O
O
10
1
2
X
X
O
10
1
3
2
X
X
O
10
1
2
3
X
X
10
1
3
2
4

C6 turns up as the I, V, IV, VI chord across 6 keys: I of C major, V of F major, IV of G major, VI of E minor, III of A minor, VII of D minor.

Fret and finger numbers for C6
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 2 2 1 3– 3 2 2 1 4
X 3 2 0 X 5– 2 1 – – 4
X 3 2 0 5 5– 2 1 – 3 4
X 3 5 0 5 5– 1 2 – 3 4
8 0 5 5 5 04 – 1 1 1 –
8 0 5 5 5 54 – 1 1 1 1
8 0 7 0 8 02 – 1 – 3 –
8 10 7 9 X X2 4 1 3 – –
8 0 10 9 8 8T – 3 2 1 1
8 0 10 0 8 01 – 3 – 2 –
8 0 10 9 8 0T – 3 2 1 –
8 0 10 0 10 01 – 3 – 4 –
8 10 10 0 10 01 2 3 – 4 –
8 0 X 0 X 01 – – – – –
8 0 X 0 8 01 – – – 2 –
X X 10 0 10 0– – 1 – 2 –
X X 10 12 10 0– – 1 3 2 –
X X 10 0 10 12– – 1 – 2 3
X X 10 12 10 12– – 1 3 2 4

Cmaj9

CEGBD
8 shapes · open & play
X
2
1
4
3
3
X
X
2
1
4
3
X
O
O
O
O
3
1
O
O
O
O
5
4
1
O
O
O
O
7
2
1
X
O
O
O
O
8
1
X
O
O
O
12
4
1
X
O
O
O
12
4
1

Cmaj9 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of C major, IV of G major, VI of E minor, III of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Cmaj9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 2 4 3 3– 2 1 4 3 3
X 3 2 4 3 X– 2 1 4 3 –
X 3 0 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
8 5 0 0 0 04 1 – – – –
8 7 0 0 0 02 1 – – – –
8 X 0 0 0 01 – – – – –
X 15 0 0 0 12– 4 – – – 1
X 15 0 0 12 0– 4 – – 1 –

Cmaj11

CEGBDF
13 shapes · open & play
X
O
3
1
1
2
1
O
O
5
3
4
1
2
O
O
6
4
2
1
3
O
O
O
7
2
3
1
O
O
7
2
3
4
1
O
O
7
2
3
4
1
O
7
T
2
4
1
3
O
O
8
1
1
3
2
O
O
O
8
1
2
3
O
O
O
8
1
2
3
O
O
O
O
8
1
2
O
O
O
8
1
3
4
8
1
1
2
3
1
4

Cmaj11 is the I and the III chord of C major and A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Cmaj11
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 3 4 3 0– 1 1 2 1 –
8 8 5 7 0 03 4 1 2 – –
8 7 0 0 6 74 2 – – 1 3
8 8 0 7 0 02 3 – 1 – –
8 8 0 9 0 72 3 – 4 – 1
8 8 9 7 0 02 3 4 1 – –
8 8 9 7 8 0T 2 4 1 3 –
8 8 0 9 0 81 1 – 3 – 2
8 8 0 9 0 01 2 – 3 – –
8 8 0 10 0 01 2 – 3 – –
8 8 0 0 0 01 2 – – – –
8 10 0 10 0 01 3 – 4 – –
8 8 9 9 8 101 1 2 3 1 4

Cmaj13

CEGBDA
5 shapes · open & play
X
X
3
1
3
1
4
O
O
O
5
4
1
3
O
O
O
5
4
1
3
7
3
1
1
1
4
2
O
O
O
O
O
8
1

Cmaj13 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of C major, IV of G major, VI of E minor, III of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Cmaj13
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 X 4 3 5– 1 – 3 1 4
8 0 0 0 5 74 – – – 1 3
8 0 5 7 0 04 – 1 3 – –
8 7 7 7 8 73 1 1 1 4 2
8 0 0 0 0 01 – – – – –

C6/9

CEGAD
19 shapes · open & play
X
O
2
2
1
3
4
X
O
2
2
4
1
3
X
O
2
2
1
4
3
X
2
1
1
3
4
X
O
O
3
1
3
4
O
O
O
O
5
4
1
O
O
O
5
4
1
1
O
O
O
7
2
1
3
O
O
7
2
1
1
3
O
7
2
1
1
1
3
7
2
1
1
1
3
4
O
O
O
X
O
8
1
O
O
O
O
8
1
2
O
O
O
8
1
3
2
O
O
8
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
O
8
1
3
O
O
O
8
1
3
4
O
O
8
1
3
2
4
O
O
8
1
3
2
4

C6/9 turns up as the I, V, IV, VI chord across 6 keys: I of C major, V of F major, IV of G major, VI of E minor, III of A minor, VII of D minor.

Fret and finger numbers for C6/9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 2 0 3 5– 2 1 – 3 4
X 3 5 2 3 0– 2 4 1 3 –
X 3 0 2 5 3– 2 – 1 4 3
X 3 2 2 3 3– 2 1 1 3 4
X 3 0 0 5 5– 1 – – 3 4
8 0 0 0 5 04 – – – 1 –
8 0 0 0 5 54 – – – 1 1
8 0 0 7 8 02 – – 1 3 –
8 0 7 7 8 02 – 1 1 3 –
8 7 7 7 8 02 1 1 1 3 –
8 7 7 7 8 82 1 1 1 3 4
8 0 0 0 X 01 – – – – –
8 0 0 0 8 01 – – – 2 –
8 0 0 9 8 01 – – 3 2 –
8 0 0 9 8 81 – – 4 2 3
8 0 0 0 10 01 – – – 3 –
8 10 0 0 10 01 3 – – 4 –
8 10 0 9 10 01 3 – 2 4 –
8 0 0 9 8 101 – – 3 2 4

Cmaj7add11

CEGBF
23 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
3
2
1
X
O
O
O
3
1
2
X
O
O
3
1
2
3
X
O
O
3
1
1
3
X
O
3
1
1
2
3
X
O
3
1
3
2
4
X
3
1
1
3
4
1
O
O
5
3
4
1
1
O
O
O
5
3
4
1
O
7
2
2
3
4
1
O
O
O
8
1
2
3
O
O
8
1
2
3
4
O
8
T
1
2
3
4
O
8
1
1
3
4
2
O
8
1
3
2
4
1
O
O
O
8
1
2
3
O
O
8
1
3
2
4
O
O
8
1
2
3
4
8
1
1
2
3
1
1
X
O
O
12
3
4
1
X
O
O
12
3
4
1
X
12
4
3
1
1
2
X
12
3
4
1
1
1

Cmaj7add11 is the I and the III chord of C major and A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Cmaj7add11
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 2 0 0 1– 3 2 – – 1
X 3 3 0 0 0– 1 2 – – –
X 3 3 4 0 0– 1 2 3 – –
X 3 3 5 0 0– 1 1 3 – –
X 3 3 4 5 0– 1 1 2 3 –
X 3 5 4 6 0– 1 3 2 4 –
X 3 3 4 5 3– 1 1 3 4 1
8 8 5 5 0 03 4 1 1 – –
8 8 5 0 0 03 4 1 – – –
8 8 9 9 0 72 2 3 4 – 1
8 8 9 0 0 01 2 3 – – –
8 8 9 0 8 01 2 3 – 4 –
8 8 9 9 8 0T 1 2 3 4 –
8 8 9 10 8 01 1 3 4 2 –
8 10 9 10 8 01 3 2 4 1 –
8 8 10 0 0 01 2 3 – – –
8 10 9 10 0 01 3 2 4 – –
8 10 10 10 0 01 2 3 4 – –
8 8 9 9 8 81 1 2 3 1 1
X 15 15 0 0 12– 3 4 – – 1
X 15 15 0 12 0– 3 4 – 1 –
X 15 14 12 12 13– 4 3 1 1 2
X 15 15 12 12 12– 3 4 1 1 1

Cmaj7add13

CEGBA
18 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
2
2
1
4
X
O
O
2
2
4
1
X
3
1
3
2
4
4
O
5
4
3
1
1
2
O
O
O
O
5
4
1
O
O
O
5
4
1
1
O
O
O
O
7
2
1
O
O
O
7
3
1
2
O
O
7
4
1
2
3
O
O
7
3
1
2
4
O
O
O
O
8
1
2
O
O
O
8
1
3
2
O
O
O
O
8
1
3
O
O
O
8
1
2
3
O
O
8
1
3
2
4
O
X
O
O
O
8
1
8
1
3
2
2
4
1
X
O
14
3
1
2
4

Cmaj7add13 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of C major, IV of G major, VI of E minor, III of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Cmaj7add13
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 3 2 0 0 5– 2 1 – – 4
X 3 5 2 0 0– 2 4 1 – –
X 3 5 4 5 5– 1 3 2 4 4
8 7 5 5 0 54 3 1 1 – 2
8 0 5 0 0 04 – 1 – – –
8 0 5 5 0 04 – 1 1 – –
8 0 7 0 0 02 – 1 – – –
8 7 7 0 0 03 1 2 – – –
8 7 7 0 0 74 1 2 – – 3
8 7 7 0 0 83 1 2 – – 4
8 0 9 0 0 01 – 2 – – –
8 0 9 0 8 01 – 3 – 2 –
8 0 10 0 0 01 – 3 – – –
8 0 9 0 10 01 – 2 – 3 –
8 10 9 0 10 01 3 2 – 4 –
8 0 X 0 0 01 – – – – –
8 10 9 9 10 81 3 2 2 4 1
X 15 14 14 0 15– 3 1 2 – 4

Every chord above has an open & play link that opens it in the interactive dictionary, where you can hear it and step through the shapes. You can also work backwards from a shape you are already holding.