What notes are in a C♯maj7 chord?

C♯maj7 contains four notes: C♯ (root), E♯ (major third — same pitch as F), G♯ (perfect fifth), and B♯ (major seventh — same pitch as C).

Is C♯maj7 the same as D♭maj7?

Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. C♯maj7 has seven sharps; D♭maj7 has five flats. D♭maj7 is the standard spelling in nearly all literature.

Why is the third E♯ and not F?

Major scales use each of the seven letters once. The C♯ major scale runs C♯-D♯-E♯-F♯-G♯-A♯-B♯ — using C-D-E-F-G-A-B in order. Calling the third "F" would skip the E letter and use F twice.

When would I see C♯maj7 instead of D♭maj7?

Inside music in C♯ major or G♯ major where the surrounding harmony already uses sharps. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier includes a C♯ major prelude that uses this exact spelling.

C# major 7 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

C♯ major 7 (C♯maj7) — C♯, E♯, G♯, B♯ — is C♯ major with a major 7th on top. The four-sharp-of-sharps spelling (with B♯ enharmonic to C natural and E♯ enharmonic to F) places the chord deep in sharp-key territory. It's enharmonically equivalent to D♭maj7 (which has a friendlier five-flat signature) and is rarely written outside C♯ major or G♯ major contexts.

Intervals

The C# major 7 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

C#→E#major 3rd4 semitones
E#→G#minor 3rd3 semitones
G#→B#major 3rd4 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the C# major 7 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the C# major 7 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

Common mistakes

Both the third (E♯) and seventh (B♯) are enharmonics for naturals (F and C respectively). Reading them as naturals is wrong inside C♯ major context but the pitch is identical. Most charts use D♭maj7 instead — same sound, dramatically fewer accidentals on the page.

In context

C♯maj7 is the I chord in C♯ major and the IV chord in G♯ major. The ii–V–I cadence runs D♯m7 → G♯7 → C♯maj7. In practice the chord is more often notated as D♭maj7 unless the surrounding key signature is firmly on the sharp side.

Drill it

The C# major 7 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

Open the Chord Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

What notes are in a C♯maj7 chord?: C♯maj7 contains four notes: C♯ (root), E♯ (major third — same pitch as F), G♯ (perfect fifth), and B♯ (major seventh — same pitch as C).
Is C♯maj7 the same as D♭maj7?: Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. C♯maj7 has seven sharps; D♭maj7 has five flats. D♭maj7 is the standard spelling in nearly all literature.
Why is the third E♯ and not F?: Major scales use each of the seven letters once. The C♯ major scale runs C♯-D♯-E♯-F♯-G♯-A♯-B♯ — using C-D-E-F-G-A-B in order. Calling the third "F" would skip the E letter and use F twice.
When would I see C♯maj7 instead of D♭maj7?: Inside music in C♯ major or G♯ major where the surrounding harmony already uses sharps. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier includes a C♯ major prelude that uses this exact spelling.