BeginnerDominant 7th
C7 Chord
The C7 is a dominant 7th chord that sounds bluesy, tense, and yearning to resolve. Dominant 7th chords are the engine of blues and jazz. Their inherent tension wants to resolve, making them perfect for transitions and turnarounds.
Notes:CRoot (1)EMajor 3rd (3)GPerfect 5th (5)A#Minor 7th (b7)
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Open Position
No barre required
How to Play C7
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ✕Mute, do not play this string | – |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ●Fret 3 with your ring finger | E |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ●Fret 2 with your middle finger | G |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ●Fret 3 with your pinky finger | A# |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | C |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ○Open, play the open string | E |
○ = Open string (no fingers needed)
✕ = Muted string (don't play)
● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret
Notes in C7
The C7 chord is built from 4 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:
C
Root (1)
The root, gives the chord its name
E
Major 3rd (3)
The major third, creates the bright sound
G
Perfect 5th (5)
The fifth, adds power and stability
A#
Minor 7th (b7)
Extended tone, adds richness and color
Other C Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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