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C7 Chord on Guitar

3241

Open. It is the open C shape with the pinky added on the 3rd string.

C7 is a dominant seventh chord: a major chord with a flat seventh added, which makes it want to move on. The open shape uses 4 fingers on 5 strings.

How to play C7, finger by finger

  1. Put your index finger on string 2 at the 1st fret.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 4 at the 2nd fret.
  3. Put your ring finger on string 5 at the 3rd fret.
  4. Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 3rd fret.
  5. Strum from string 5 down to string 1, and don't play string 6.

More ways to play C7

8fr1321
E-shape barre from fret 8
3fr134
A-shape barre from fret 3
2fr2134
Open, fret 2 from fret 2
3fr1324
Open, fret 3 from fret 3
5fr3241
Barre, fret 5 from fret 5
7fr2134
Movable, fret 7 from fret 7
8fr1423
Movable, fret 8 from fret 8
10fr1324
Movable, fret 10 from fret 10

Notes in C7

NoteIntervalRole
C1root
E3major third
G5fifth
B♭♭7flat seventh

Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7

Questions about C7

What notes are in C7?

C, E, G and B♭. Those are the 1, 3, 5, ♭7 of the chord, counted from C.

Which strings do I strum for C7?

Start on string 5 and strum down to string 1.

What chord does C7 lead to?

Most often F. C7 is the five chord of F, so it pulls strongly back to F.

Often played with C7

Other 7 chords