Explore chords · Ukulele
C minor 7th chord on ukulele (Cm7)
Also called or written Cm7 or Cmin7
C minor 7th contains C, E♭, G, and B♭. The 5th-fret grip stretches the pinky to the 7th fret while the other fingers hold the 6th fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
How do you play a C minor 7th chord on ukulele?
C minor 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 6 6: index finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 6 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 4 | G (5) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must stretch to the 7th fret on the C string while the middle and ring fingers hold the 6th fret, risking a muted E string.
Cm7/B♭ inversion
C minor 7th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 8 10: index finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, middle 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) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (5) |
Cm7/E♭ inversion
C minor 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 3rd between C and E♭ gives the chord its minor quality, and the minor 7th B♭ adds a mellow tension. Compare it to C minor, which omits the 7th.
What goes wrong with C minor 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the E string, muting it.
- Pressing the index finger too flat, which can buzz the G string.
- Rushing the stretch so the C string note sounds sharp.
When to use it
C minor 7th works as the vi chord in E♭ major, appearing in the progression E♭ major–B♭ major–C minor–A♭ major (I–V–vi–IV). It suits jazz ballads and R&B. Try it with C minor and E♭ major.
Changing to and from C minor 7th
- Move to C♯ minor 7th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 6th fret.
- From C minor 7th, slide down two frets to the 3rd fret for B♭ minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 5th-fret voicing keeps C in the bass for a grounded sound. The Cm7/E♭ inversion at the 8th fret puts E♭ in the bass, softening the chord. For a brighter top, use the Cm7/B♭ inversion at the 3rd fret.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C minor 7th written?
C minor 7th is written Cmin7 or Cm7.
Why does the 5th-fret voicing feel so stretched?
The stretch comes from the pinky reaching the 7th fret on the C string while the other fingers stay near the 5th and 6th frets. Practicing the shape slowly helps the hand adapt.
How does C minor 7th differ from C minor?
C minor 7th adds the note B♭, a minor 7th above the root. This extra note creates a softer, more complex sound than the plain triad.