Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Cmaj7 and Em7

I challenge you to learn two chords every day, until the last day of the season (December 20). If you've missed a day, please refer to this list. You have your choice between the guitar and the piano (keyboard), or both. If you're a beginner, I'll show you relatively simple ways to play each chord. If you're more advanced, you'll have the entire fretboard and/or keyboard to explore.

Simple guitar chord shapes are marked with a number representing the recommended fingers to use for fretting a chord:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note


First up is C (major) major 7th, or Cmaj7:

Guitarists, fret the C chord from a few days ago, and raise your index finger off the B string. Strum the same strings, and that's Cmaj7.


Keyboardists, the C, E, G, and B notes create the Cmaj7 chord. Use whatever fingers are comfortable for you, but try to make all your fingers equally strong when playing the keys.


Next is E minor (minor) 7th, or Em7:

Guitarists, take the Em chord from before, and add the ring finger and little finger from the G chord. Fantastic! Now you are well on your way to introduce a song by saying, "Anyway, here's 'Wonderwall.'"


Keyboardists, any combination of E, G, B, and D will give you an Em7.


Two more tomorrow! Cheers!