Explore chords · Ukulele
C 7th chord on ukulele (C7)
Also called or written C7, C, C Dominant 7th or C Major Minor 7th
C 7th contains C, E, G, and B♭. The 5th fret shape stretches all four fingers across four frets, so it is not a beginner chord.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
How do you play a C 7th chord on ukulele?
C 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 6 7: index finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (5) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 4 | E (3) |
AdvancedThe 5th fret shape requires a wide stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string, spanning four frets.
C7/B♭ inversion
C 7th is played at the 8th fret as 9 10 8 10: middle finger on the G string at fret 9, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 2 | E (3) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (5) |
Open
C 7th is played in open position as 0 0 0 1: index finger on the A string at fret 1. The G, C and E strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | open | — | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭7) |
C7/E inversion
C 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 4 3 3: index finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 4, middle finger on the E string at fret 3 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 4 | E (3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7 on the root C. The ♭7, B♭, gives the chord its dominant quality. Compare it with C major, which stops at the major third and fifth.
What goes wrong with C 7th?
- Letting the pinky flatten and mute the 1st string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 2nd string, muffling the E.
- Pressing the index too hard so the 4th string buzzes.
When to use it
C 7th is the V chord in F major, resolving to F major in the I–IV–V–I progression F–B♭–C–F. It also appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression F–C–Dm–B♭. Use C 7th for blues, jazz, and rock progressions.
Changing to and from C 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 4th fret gives B 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 6th fret gives C♯ 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 5th fret shape has C in the bass and is the root position. The C7/G inversion at the open position puts G in the bass and is easier to grab quickly. The C7/B♭ inversion at the 3rd fret has B♭ in the bass.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C 7th written?
C 7th is written as C7. The symbols C and C7 both refer to this chord. It is also called Dominant 7th or Major Minor 7th.
What is the difference between C 7th and C major?
C major contains C, E, and G. C 7th adds the ♭7, B♭, which creates tension that resolves to F major.
Can I play C 7th with open strings?
Yes, the C7/G inversion uses open strings: 0-0-0-1. That voicing has G in the bass and is easier for quick changes.