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C7 Chord on Guitar

C7 is the C dominant 7th chord — 4 notes (C, E, G, B♭) built from the formula 1 3 5 ♭7. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E · G · B♭Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

C7: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • C7 – open position×R3♭7R3open position
  • C7 – fret 1×R3♭7R×fret 1
  • C7 – fret 2×R3♭73×fret 2
  • C7 – fret 3×R5♭735fret 3
  • C7 – fret 55R35R3♭7fret 5
  • C7 – fret 88R5♭735Rfret 8
  • C7 – fret 99××R3♭73fret 9
  • C7 – fret 1010××R5♭73fret 10

C7: Drop 2 voicings

  • C7 – bass: 55R3♭7××bass: 5
  • C7 – bass: 59×5R3♭7×bass: 5
  • C7 – bass: 55××5R3♭7bass: 5
  • C7 – bass: ♭75♭735R××bass: ♭7
  • C7 – bass: ♭712×♭735R×bass: ♭7
  • C7 – bass: ♭78××♭735Rbass: ♭7
  • C7 – bass: R8R5♭73××bass: R
  • C7 – bass: R×R5♭73×bass: R
  • C7 – bass: R10××R5♭73bass: R
  • C7 – bass: 3103♭7R5××bass: 3
  • C7 – bass: 35×3♭7R5×bass: 3
  • C7 – bass: 3××3♭7R5bass: 3

C7: Drop 3 voicings

  • C7 – bass: 3103×R5♭7×bass: 3
  • C7 – bass: 35×3×R5♭7bass: 3
  • C7 – bass: 55×3♭7R×bass: 5
  • C7 – bass: 58×5×3♭7Rbass: 5
  • C7 – bass: ♭75♭7×5R3×bass: ♭7
  • C7 – bass: ♭712×♭7×5R3bass: ♭7
  • C7 – bass: R8R×♭735×bass: R
  • C7 – bass: R×R×♭735bass: R

C7: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • C7 – R-3-77R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • C7 – R-3-7×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • C7 – R-7-38R×♭73××R-7-3
  • C7 – R-7-3×R×♭73×R-7-3

Keys that contain C7

Scales to play over C7

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E, G, B♭.

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Dominant 7th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C7 chord?
C7 (C dominant 7th) contains C, E, G, B♭ — formula 1 3 5 ♭7.
How do you play C7 on guitar?
A common shape is x32310 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with C7?
Good choices to solo over C7: C Mixolydian, C Lydian dominant, C Phrygian dominant.
What key is C7 in?
C7 is diatonic in F major (V7), D minor (♭VII7).