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C♯ 7th chord on guitar (C♯7)
Also called or written C♯7, C♯, C♯ Dominant 7th or C♯ Major Minor 7th
C♯ 7th contains C♯, E♯, G♯, and B. The 4th 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♯–BC♯7×-4-6-4-6-4
- First inversionE♯–G♯–B–C♯C♯7/E♯1-2-3-1-2-1
- Second inversionG♯–B–C♯–E♯C♯7/G♯4-2-3-4-2-×
- Third inversionB–C♯–E♯–G♯C♯7/B×-2-3-1-2-1
How do you play a C♯ 7th chord on guitar?
C♯ 7th is played at the 4th fret as × 4 6 4 6 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, ring finger on the D string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 6. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | B (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 6 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret three strings cleanly while the ring and pinky stretch to the 6th fret.
9th fret
C♯ 7th is played at the 9th fret as 9 11 9 10 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, pinky finger on the A string at fret 11 and ring finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 1 (barre) | B (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 3 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
11th fret
C♯ 7th is played at the 11th fret as × × 11 13 12 13: index finger on the D string at fret 11, ring finger on the G string at fret 13, middle finger on the B string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 13. 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) | 11 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 2 | B (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 13 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
C♯7/E♯ inversion · fret 1
C♯ 7th is played at the 1st fret as 1 2 3 1 2 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, middle finger on the A string at fret 2, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3 and ring finger on the B string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
C♯7/E♯ inversion · fret 2
C♯ 7th is played at the 2nd fret as × × 3 4 2 4: middle finger on the D string at fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 4, index finger on the B string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 4. 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) | 3 | 2 | E♯ (3) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 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 a non-chord tone.
- Arching the barre finger so the G 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 suits blues, rock, and jazz. Resolve it to F♯ major.
Changing to and from C♯ 7th
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 3rd fret to play C 7th.
- Move to F♯ major by lifting the barre and fretting the D string at the 4th fret, G string at the 3rd fret, and B string at the 2nd fret.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret barre is the default and keeps the root on the A string. The 9th fret barre adds the low E string for a heavier sound. The C♯7/E♯ inversion puts E♯ in the bass for a lighter, first-inversion feel.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ 7th written?
C♯ 7th is written as C♯7 or C#7. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why is the low E string muted in the 4th fret shape?
The open E is not a chord tone of C♯ 7th, so it would add an outside note. Muting it keeps the voicing clean.
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.