C♯ minor-major 7th chord

Playing it

On guitar, C♯m(maj7) has an open-position shape, x42110, using four fingers alongside the open strings. Don’t strum the low E string.

On piano, C♯m(maj7) has two black keys (C♯ and G♯) and two white keys.

On ukulele the usual C♯m(maj7) shape is 1004, using two fingers.

Related chords

Take away the root and the other three notes form Eaug (E G♯ B♯) — so you can think of C♯m(maj7) as Eaug with C♯ added underneath.

Move a single note and C♯m(maj7) becomes a different chord: drop the B♯ for C♯m, raise E to E♯ for C♯maj7, lower B♯ to B for C♯m7 and swap B♯ for A♯ for C♯m6.

Where you’ll hear it

Notice the B♯ in C♯m(maj7) (C♯ E G♯ B♯): each note of the chord takes its own letter (C–E–G–B), so the major 7th has to be written B♯ rather than C — the same key on a piano, spelled to fit the chord.