C7 Chord
C7 is the dominant seventh on C. The classic 'tense, wants to resolve' sound at the heart of blues and traditional harmony.
Notes in the C7 chord
C7 contains C — E — G — A♯. C7 is the dominant seventh on C. The classic 'tense, wants to resolve' sound at the heart of blues and traditional harmony.
How to play C7
Open the chord finder above to see C7 fingerings on piano, guitar, and ukulele simultaneously. Click any note on the diagram to play it on its own; use the strum button to roll the chord out from low to high.
C7 in songs
C7 appears in countless songs across rock, pop, jazz, and folk. Look it up in any tabbed song; if you see C7 written above the lyrics, that's this chord.
FAQs
What's the difference between C7 and Cm chords?
The third note changes. C7 uses the dominant 7 third interval; switching the third changes the entire emotional character.
What scale does C7 come from?
C7 sits naturally in C major and several related keys. Use the scale explorer to see which scales contain it.
Are there easier guitar voicings for C7?
Most chords have multiple voicings. The chord finder shows one common voicing; experienced guitarists often have several alternatives in different positions.