C♭ Major 7th
Hear the C♭ Major 7th chord played for you.
C♭maj7
C♭ – E – G – B
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7
Introduction
The C♭ Major 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of C♭, E, G, and B. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and major seventh.
The Cb Major 7th piano chord (Cbmaj7) consists of the notes Cb, E, G, B. It is a major triad with an added major 7th, giving it a dreamy, sophisticated, and jazzy sound. Formula: R-M3-P5-M7 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-7.
Notes
C♭ Major 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | Cb – E – G – B |
| 1st Inversion | G – Cb – B – E |
| 2nd Inversion | Cb – B – E – G |
| 3rd Inversion | Cb – E – G – B |
Key Signature
The key of Cb Major 7th has 7 flats.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of Cb Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the Cb major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — B Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-M7
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7
The C♭ Major 7th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-M7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-M7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
C♭ Major 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Cb Major 7th chord?
The Cb Major 7th chord (Cbmaj7) contains four notes: Cb (root), Eb (major third), Gb (perfect fifth), and Bb (major seventh). This chord is the enharmonic equivalent of Bmaj7 — same sound, different spelling.
How does Cb Major 7th differ from Cb Dominant 7th?
Both contain Cb, Eb, and Gb. The difference is the seventh: Cbmaj7 has Bb (major seventh) while Cb7 has Bbb/A (minor seventh). Cbmaj7 sounds warm and resolved; Cb7 sounds tense and pulls toward Fb Major.
How is Cb Major 7th used in music?
Cbmaj7 is a theoretical chord that appears in flat-key contexts. In practice, musicians almost always use the enharmonic equivalent Bmaj7. Cbmaj7 exists for theoretical completeness and when notating in keys with many flats.
What genres commonly use Major 7th chords?
Major 7th chords are foundational in jazz, bossa nova, neo-soul, R&B, city pop, and lo-fi hip-hop. They also appear in classical impressionism and sophisticated pop. The dreamy quality is a signature of harmonically rich music.
What songs use Major 7th chords?
Major 7th chords appear in The Girl from Ipanema (Jobim), Don't Know Why (Norah Jones), and countless jazz standards. Whether spelled as Cbmaj7 or Bmaj7, the sound is identical.
Can I substitute Cb Major 7th for Cb Major?
Yes — Cbmaj7 can replace Cb Major for added warmth. Since Cbmaj7 and Bmaj7 are enharmonic equivalents, the substitution works identically regardless of spelling.
Practice Tips
- Play Cb Major then add Bb — hear the dreamy warmth identical to Bmaj7.
- Cbmaj7 and Bmaj7 are the same chord spelled differently — practice both to strengthen your enharmonic fluency.
- Understanding Cbmaj7 helps when reading music in extreme flat keys like Gb Major or Cb Major.
- When you encounter Cbmaj7 in a score, mentally translate to Bmaj7 for easier reading — the keyboard notes are identical.
- Try the chord in context: Gbmaj7 → Cbmaj7 (IV–I in Gb) is the same as F#maj7 → Bmaj7 (IV–I in F#).
- The all-black-keys-plus-Cb shape of this chord is physically distinctive — use the tactile feel as a memory anchor.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.