C7 Guitar Chord

3241

C7

NameC dominant 7
NotesCEGBb
IntervalsRroot3major 3rd55thb7flat 7th

Root

Chord type

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Shape

Tone

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C7 is C major plus a Bb, played with your pinky on the G string. It pulls strongly toward F.

How to play the C7 chord

  1. Don't play the low E string.
  2. Put your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the A string (C).
  3. Put your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the D string (E).
  4. Put your 4th finger (pinky) on the 3rd fret of the G string (Bb).
  5. Put your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the B string (C).
  6. Let the high E string ring open (E).
  7. Strum from the A string down, skipping the string above it.

TipStart from the C chord and add your pinky to the 3rd fret of the G string.

5 ways to play C7

Every shape below is a real C7, checked note by note: C, E, G, Bb and nothing else. Easiest first, with the dark dot on the root.

C7 chord diagram, open: x 3 2 3 1 0
Open EasyWith sound The one most players learn first. This is the shape you hear on the play button.
C7 chord diagram, barre, 8th fret: 8 10 8 9 8 8
Barre, 8th fret Medium Root on the low E string. It's the open E7 shape moved up with your 1st finger as the nut, so you can slide it to any dominant 7 chord.
C7 chord diagram, 10th fret: x x 10 12 11 12
10th fret Medium 4 strings, root on the D string. Higher and lighter, great for a second guitar part.
C7 chord diagram, 13th fret: x 15 14 15 13 x
13th fret Medium The open C7 shape moved up, root on the A string. A fuller sound, but a stretch.
C7 chord diagram, barre, 3rd fret: x 3 5 3 5 3
Barre, 3rd fret Hard Root on the A string. The open A7 shape moved up with a barre, a movable shape for any dominant 7 chord.

C vs C7: hear the difference

C7 is C plus Bb (the flat 7th). Play them back to back:

C7

CEGBb

Bluesy and restless

C

CEG

Bright and settled

Chord progressions with C7

Chords make sense once you move between them. Press play to hear each progression with the real recordings, one chord per bar, then play along. Tap any chord to open its page.

Blues shuffle

I7 - IV7 - I7 - V7 in C
C7 F7 C7 G7
In the blues every chord is a 7.

The V7 going home

I - IV - V7 - I in F
F Bb C7 F
A dominant 7 wants to resolve to the chord a 5th below.

Minor key V7

i - iv - V7 - i in F minor
Fm Bbm C7 Fm
The same pull, in a minor key.

Practice changing to C7

Switching chords cleanly is what makes a new chord usable in a song. Start the timer, then go back and forth between C7 and the chord you picked, strumming each one, and keep a count in your head. Your hands stay on the guitar the whole time. When it beeps, type in your count and try to beat it next time.

C7 to F7

60seconds

-last try

-your best

Practice C7 with

Songs that use C7

  • Hey Jude by The BeatlesVerse F-C-C7-F
  • What a Wonderful World by Louis ArmstrongVerse ends Gm7-C7-F
  • Evil Ways by SantanaVerse turnaround C7-Gm
  • Yesterday by The BeatlesVerse Bb-C7-F

Learn it with a teacher

Diagrams show you where your fingers go. A teacher shows you how to make it sound good. Start with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:

Blues Basics - The Chords Free with an account · Chris Feener Chord Changes for Beginners - Transitions Free with an account · Chris Feener Mastering Bar Chords - Introduction Free with an account · Chris Feener

Access these lessons with a free account. No payment needed. Sign up free

Chords that go with C7

F7dominant 7G7dominant 7FmajorBbmajorFmminorBbmminor

Other C chords

CmajorCmminorCmaj7major 7Cm7minor 7C7sus47 suspended 4C6major 6Cm6minor 6C9dominant 9CaugaugmentedCdim7diminished 7

Other dominant 7 chords

C#7C# E# G# BD7D F# A CEb7Eb G Bb DbE7E G# B DF7F A C EbF#7F# A# C# EG7G B D FAb7Ab C Eb GbA7A C# E GBb7Bb D F AbB7B D# F# A

See all 154 chords in the Guitar Chord Chart

C7 chord FAQ

What notes are in a C7 chord?

C7 has 4 notes: C (the root), E (the major 3rd), G (the 5th) and Bb (the flat 7th). Every C7 shape on the guitar is those notes in a different order.

What is the difference between C and C7?

C7 is C plus Bb (the flat 7th). Use the player above to hear both.

Is C7 hard to play?

No, it's one of the easier ones: 4 fingers and no barre, and the open strings do some of the work. Practice switching to it from a chord you already know.

How do you play C7 as a barre chord?

Barre the 8th fret with your 1st finger, using the E shape (8-10-8-9-8-8). That shape is movable: slide it up or down and it plays a dominant 7 chord on every fret.

What key is C7 in?

It's the V7 chord in F major and F minor, and the I7 chord in a blues in C.