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C 7th chord on guitar (C7)
Also called or written C7, C, C Dominant 7th or C Major Minor 7th
C 7th contains C, E, G, and B♭. The 3rd fret barre shape is a five-string grip that moves up the neck, with the root on the A string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionC–E–G–B♭C7×-3-5-3-5-3
- First inversionE–G–B♭–CC7/E0-1-2-0-1-0
- Second inversionG–B♭–C–EC7/G3-1-2-0-1-0
- Third inversionB♭–C–E–GC7/B♭×-1-2-0-1-0
How do you play a C 7th chord on guitar?
C 7th is played at the 3rd fret as × 3 5 3 5 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 5. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 5 | 3 | G (5) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 4 | E (3) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret three strings cleanly while the ring and pinky stretch to the 5th fret.
8th fret
C 7th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 8 9 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, pinky finger on the A string at fret 10 and ring finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (5) |
| 4 (D) | 8 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 3 | E (3) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
10th fret
C 7th is played at the 10th fret as × × 10 12 11 12: index finger on the D string at fret 10, ring finger on the G string at fret 12, middle finger on the B string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 11 | 2 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 4 | E (3) |
C7/E inversion · E on top — the easy shape, no barre
C 7th is played in open position as 0 1 2 0 1 0: index finger on the A string at fret 1, ring finger on the D string at fret 2 and middle finger on the B string at fret 1. The low E, G and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 3 | E (3) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (3) |
C7/E inversion · G on top
C 7th is played in open position as 0 1 2 0 1 3: index finger on the A string at fret 1, ring finger on the D string at fret 2, middle finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 3 | E (3) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (5) |
Why it sounds like that
C 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7, adding a minor seventh to the C major triad. The ♭7 creates the dominant pull that defines the chord. Compare it with C major, which lacks that seventh.
What goes wrong with C 7th?
- Letting the low E string ring, which adds an unintended bass note below the root.
- Arching the barre finger so the high E string sounds muted.
- Placing the pinky too far behind the fret, causing a buzz on the B string.
When to use it
C 7th is the V chord in F major, appearing in progressions like F–B♭–C–F (I–IV–V–I). It fits blues, rock, and jazz. Resolve it to F major.
Changing to and from C 7th
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 2nd fret to play B 7th.
- Move to F major by lifting the barre and fretting the D string at the 3rd fret, G string at the 2nd fret, and B string at the 1st fret.
Which voicing to use
The 3rd fret barre is the default and keeps the root on the A string. The 8th fret barre adds the low E string for a heavier sound. The C7/E inversion puts E in the bass for a lighter, first-inversion feel.
Other C chords
Common questions
Why is the low E string muted in the 3rd fret shape?
The open E is a chord tone, but muting it preserves the C bass note and the intended voicing. It is not a clash.
How does C 7th differ from C major?
C 7th adds a B♭ note, the minor seventh, to the C major triad. That note gives the chord its dominant tension.
Can I play C 7th with the low E string fretted?
Yes, the 8th fret barre shape includes the low E string at the 8th fret, giving a fuller sound with C in the bass.