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C♯ Major 7th

Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated June 2026 · Maintained by Justin Evans

D♭ Major 7th
This is the same chord as D♭ Major 7th — the same keys on the keyboard, spelled with flats.
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Three quick cards on C♯ Major 7th
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C♯maj7
C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7

Practice C♯ Major 7th

Reading about it is one thing. Drilling it is what makes it automatic.

Chord Drill →Timed drills — build speed and recognitionPractice Room →Plug in a MIDI keyboard for real-time feedback

Introduction

C# Major 7th piano chord, root position — C#, F, G#, C
The C# Major 7th chord in root position on a piano keyboard, notes C#, F, G#, C.

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.

Notes

Notes:C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯

C♯ Major 7th Inversions

C# Major 7th piano chord, 1st inversion — F, G#, C, C#
The C# Major 7th chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
C# Major 7th piano chord, 2nd inversion — G#, C, C#, F
The C# Major 7th chord, 2nd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
C# Major 7th piano chord, 3rd inversion — C, C#, F, G#
The C# Major 7th chord, 3rd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionC♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯
1st InversionE♯ – G♯ – B♯ – C♯
2nd InversionG♯ – B♯ – C♯ – E♯
3rd InversionB♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the C♯ Major 7th is the tonic (I) chord of C# Major, whose key signature has 7 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯).

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Chords in the Key of C♯ Major

These are the triads built on each degree of the C♯ major scale:

C1C2C3C4FC5C6C7C8C#G#
I — C♯ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IC♯ MajorMajor
2iiD♯ MinorMinor
3iiiF MinorMinor
4IVF♯ MajorMajor
5VG♯ MajorMajor
6viA♯ MinorMinor
7vii°C DiminishedDiminished

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 is the C♯ Major 7th chord on piano?
The C♯ Major 7th chord contains the notes C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the C# Major 7th chord?
C# Major 7th is built from the C# root. Check the interactive keyboard above for exact notes and fingering.
How is the C# Major 7th chord used in music?
C# Major 7th appears in jazz, pop, and classical contexts. Its sound depends on the chord quality (Major 7th).
What is the fingering for C# Major 7th?
See the fingering chart above. Right hand typically uses thumb on root. Left hand uses pinky on root.
What are the inversions of C# Major 7th?
Use the inversion buttons above to see each inversion with notes, fingering, and staff notation.

Practice Tips

  • Dreamy, warm, sophisticated sound.
  • Compare with C#7 (dominant).
  • Jazz ballad tonic chord.
  • Bossa nova favourite.
  • The major 7th creates a floating quality.
  • Try as a resting chord after tension.

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.

References & Further Reading

How this chord page is sourced & verified

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this page are drawn from the established body of Western music theory and verified against the conventions below — the same fundamentals taught in conservatories and music programs. We list categories of source material rather than individual titles, and reference the standards themselves rather than any single edition.

  • Standard music theory texts — Widely taught fundamentals of pitch, rhythm, and notation.
  • Western tonal harmony conventions — Established rules for chord construction, voice leading, and key relationships.
  • Interval and chord construction standards — The conventional spelling of intervals, triads, sevenths, and extensions.
  • Scale and mode theory — The common derivation of major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and modal scales.
  • Piano pedagogy and technique references — Long-standing practices for fingering, hand position, and practice.

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