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Guitar Chord Theory Lab

Enter a chord to examine its construction, chord tones, and five playable CAGED positions.

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Chord symbol

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Full CAGED fretboardCmaj7 · standard tuning · open strings through fret 15

Harmony map

Circle of fifths

Cmaj7
Circle of fifths for Cmaj7C is the root. Highlighted positions are notes in Cmaj7.CROOTCGDAEBF♯ / G♭D♭ / C♯A♭ / G♯E♭ / D♯B♭ / A♯F

Chord anatomy

Cmaj7

major seventh
Root
C
Quality
Major
Bass
C
Third
Present
Formula
1357
RootC1P · 1
ThirdE3M · 3
FifthG5P · 5
SeventhB7M · 7

Guitar voicings

CAGED positions

Melody

CAGED scale paths

Derived from Cmaj7's root and chord quality

Pentatonic scales

Two-note-per-string patterns for every CAGED position.

  1. C shapeC major pentatonic
    Frets 0–3
  2. A shapeC major pentatonic
    Frets 2–5
  3. G shapeC major pentatonic
    Frets 5–8
  4. E shapeC major pentatonic
    Frets 7–10
  5. D shapeC major pentatonic
    Frets 9–13

Three-note-per-string scales

CAGED paths avoid repeating the same pitch on adjacent strings.

  1. C shapeC ionian
    Frets 0–3
  2. A shapeC ionian
    Frets 2–7
  3. G shapeC ionian
    Frets 4–8
  4. E shapeC ionian
    Frets 7–10
  5. D shapeC ionian
    Frets 9–13