C Dominant 7th Guitar Chord (C7)
C7 is the C shape plus a pinky. x32310, the new finger landing on B♭. That one note points the chord at F. Gospel turnarounds run on it.
C7 shakes red pepper flakes over C.
C7 chord shapes in standard tuning
How to play it
Place your index finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 3. Let the high E (1st) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | C |
| 3 | major third | E |
| 5 | perfect fifth | G |
| ♭7 | minor seventh | B♭ |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see C7 in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More C chords
Nearby dominant 7th chords
C7 FAQ
What notes are in C7?
C7 contains C, E, G, and B♭. That's the root (C), the major third, the perfect fifth, and the minor seventh.
Is C7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest C7 shape (x-3-2-3-1-0) needs no barre. It uses 4 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 3, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.
What is the easiest way to play C7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-3-2-3-1-0. Place your index finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 3. Let the high E (1st) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.