C Minor 7th Guitar Chord (Cm7)
C minor 7th is a four-note chord built from C (the root), E♭ (the minor third), G (the perfect fifth), and B♭ (the minor seventh). It softens a minor triad with a minor seventh, smoothing its dark edge into something mellow and smoky. It is a staple of soul, R&B, jazz, and lo-fi grooves. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
Cm7 chord shapes — standard tuning
How to play it
Lay your index finger flat across the top 4 strings (from the D (4th) string up) at fret 1 — that barre is the backbone of this Cm7 shape. Then add your middle finger on the A (5th) string at fret 3, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 3. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | C |
| ♭3 | minor third | E♭ |
| 5 | perfect fifth | G |
| ♭7 | minor seventh | B♭ |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see Cm7 in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More C chords
Nearby minor 7th chords
Cm7 FAQ
What notes are in Cm7?
Cm7 contains C, E♭, G, and B♭ — the root (C), the minor third, the perfect fifth, and the minor seventh.
Is Cm7 a barre chord?
The most common Cm7 shape (x-3-1-3-1-3) is a barre chord — your index finger bars fret 1 across 4 strings. There is no standard open-position shape for this chord in standard tuning, but the diagrams above include every practical alternative up the neck.
What is the easiest way to play Cm7 on guitar?
Start with the barre · 1fr shape x-3-1-3-1-3. Lay your index finger flat across the top 4 strings (from the D (4th) string up) at fret 1 — that barre is the backbone of this Cm7 shape. Then add your middle finger on the A (5th) string at fret 3, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 3. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.