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C7 Guitar Chord

C7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
C7Guitar fingering diagram for C71234×3241STRING6ª×5ªC4ªE3ªA#2ªC1ªE
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What sets C7 apart

The notes of C7 are C, E, G and Bb. C is the root, E the major third, G the fifth and Bb the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are C, E, G and B flat.

String by string, low to high, it plays C, E, Bb, C and E. The root, C, shows up twice in the main shape. This shape leaves out G, the fifth. It runs from C on string 5 up to E on string 1.

In C7, only one string rings open, string 1, which gives E. Avoid string 6. Your hand covers three frets, from 1 to 3. There is one more position, starting at fret 8.

Change only string 3 in C7 and you have C. C7 and Am have C and E in common. Moving to Am, you keep two fingers down.

You will find C7 in two different keys. In F major it is the V7 and in F minor the V7. Further down there is a song that uses it.

Chord Progressions

Harmonic circles featuring the C7 chord:

01F F - Dm - Gm - C702Fm Fm - Db - Bbm - C7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (C7)

Formula: Dominant Seventh (1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7)
Constituent chord intervals:

C 1E 3G 5Bb ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for C7:

01

Standard

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Finger 3
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 2
EDegree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 3Finger 4
A#
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Finger 1
CDegree 1
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 3

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 1 with your Index finger. Play open: 1st String (High E). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

02

Barre 8

Barre fret 8
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 8Barre
CDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 10
GDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 8Barre
A#
3rd String (G)
Fret 9
EDegree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Barre
GDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 8Barre
CDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 8. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 10, 3rd String (G) at fret 9.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (C7)

Standard Position
Key Principle:

Standard C Major shape plus finger 4 (pinky) on string 3 fret 3. Maintain rounded knuckle arches on all fingers.

Thumb Placement: Behind fret 2 at mid-height, or lightly damping string 6.

Most Common Beginner Mistake:

Collapsing the pinky pad flat against string 2, choking off the root note C at fret 1.

Immediate Solution: Fret regular C Major first, then drop the pinky down vertically on its very tip. Pick strings 3, 2, and 1 sequentially to ensure individual ring.

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 3
Fretting fingers4
Open1st
Muted6th

What to check

The open 1st string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from C7

Listen: C7 → C · Am · Fm

  1. C7
  2. C
  3. C7
  4. Am
  5. C7
  6. Fm
C7 → C01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:3 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
C7 → Am02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Move
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
C7 → Fm03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 2, fret 1
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 1
  • string 1, fret 1

C7 in every key

C7 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
4

Major keys

Minor keys

C7 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleC7 on four strings, with sound.BassC7 as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (C7)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Hey Jude"The Beatles • 1968Works as the dominant and leads back to the tonic (F - C - C7 - F).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (C7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the C7 chord?

To play the C7 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the C7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the C7 chord is its root note: C. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the C7 chord and what is its formula?

The C7 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 formula (Dominant Seventh). Its constituent pitches are C, E, G, Bb.

How do you prevent the C7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the C7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

What famous songs use the C7 chord?

"Hey Jude" (The Beatles, 1968). Works as the dominant and leads back to the tonic (F - C - C7 - F).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official C7 chord diagram

C7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheetView circle (F)→

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Other chords in the C family:

Chord C Chord C#m Chord Cm Chord Cmaj7 Chord C#m7 Chord Cm7 Chord Csus2 Chord Csus4