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C7 Chord

C7 adds B flat to the C major triad. That flat seventh makes it useful before a chord whose root lies a fifth below C.

  • Notes: C-E-G-B flat
  • Symbol: C7
  • V7 in F major
  • Flat seventh
Switch chordC7

How to play a C7 chord

Notes: C - E - G - Bb · symbol C7

  • Root position

    C - E - G - Bb
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 1st inversion

    E - G - Bb - C
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-4-2-1

  • 2nd inversion

    G - Bb - C - E
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 3rd inversion

    Bb - C - E - G
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

Where does C7 belong?

In F major, C7 acts as V7 and points toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In F majorDominant
    V7

    It resolves to F: E rises to F and B flat falls a half step.

    FIBbIVC7V7FI
  • In F minorMinor-key dominant
    V7

    The same pull in F minor, where harmonic minor supplies the raised E.

    FmiBbmivC7V7Fmi
  • In C bluesBlues home
    I7

    In a 12-bar blues the home chord is itself a 7 chord, and it does not need to resolve.

    C7I7F7IV7C7I7G7V7
  • In Bb majorSecondary dominant
    II7

    In Bb major it borrows a pull toward F, the V of that key.

    BbIC7II7FVBbI

Progressions to try

  • FBbC7F

    C7 is V7 in F major; hear its seventh and third lean into the last chord.

  • FmBbmC7Fm

    The same dominant shape leads into a minor tonic in F minor.

  • C7F7C7G7

    In C blues, the tonic itself carries a seventh; the loop returns to C7 without losing that blues color.

  • BbC7FBb

    C7 briefly acts as a secondary dominant, pointing toward the chord after it rather than the main tonic.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with the open x32310 grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent. The x35353 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.

On ukulele, the open shape 0001 is the easiest place to start. The 3433 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play C-E-G-B flat. Move C up an octave to reach the first inversion, E-G-B flat-C; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

C is the root, E the major third, G the fifth and B flat the flat seventh, ten semitones above the root.

  • Root position: C-E-G-B flat, with C lowest.
  • First inversion: E-G-B flat-C, written C7/E if E is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: G-B flat-C-E, written C7/G if G is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Third inversion: B flat-C-E-G, written C7/Bb if B flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does C7 differ from Cmaj7?

Keep C, E and G; raise the seventh from B flat to B. The result is Cmaj7, whose major seventh changes the pull. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Cmaj7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • C7

    C - E - G - Bb
    C4C5

    C dominant 7

  • Cmaj7

    C - E - G - B
    C4C5

    C major 7

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