C Dominant 7th Guitar Chord (C7)
The C Dominant 7th chord (C7) is built from the notes C, E, G, and A#: the R, 3, 5, b7 of C. Below are the five ways to play C7 on guitar, laid out in order from the lowest position on the neck to the highest.
A dominant seventh chord is bluesy and restless: it wants to resolve, which is why it drives blues, funk, and the V chord in nearly every key. C7 can be played in open position, and it also appears four more times higher up the neck.
Notes in C7
How to play C7: five positions
Strings run low E to high e, left to right. Dots are finger positions, a ringed dot is the root (C), an × means don't play that string, and the label on the right (like "10fr") is the starting fret. Under each shape are the notes it sounds and their role in the chord.
Hear it and explore other chords →
The free interactive Chord Library lets you switch roots and flavors instantly and see every voicing update live.
Other C chords
The dominant 7th chord in other keys
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the C Dominant 7th chord?
- The C Dominant 7th chord (C7) contains the notes C, E, G, and A#. Those are the R, 3, 5, b7 of C, so the chord is C (the root), E (the third), G (the fifth), and A# (the flat seventh).
- How do you play C7 on guitar?
- There are five ways to play C7, one for each CAGED shape. C7 can be played in open position, and it also appears four more times higher up the neck. A nearby voicing often makes an awkward chord change much easier, so if one shape fights you, try the next one up or down the neck.
- What does a C7 chord sound like?
- A dominant seventh chord is bluesy and restless: it wants to resolve, which is why it drives blues, funk, and the V chord in nearly every key. You can hear C7 and any progression built from it in the free interactive tools on this site.
- Is C7 a hard chord to play?
- Not necessarily. C7 has an open-position shape that beginners can reach, plus higher barre-style shapes for when you want a different position or are playing with another guitarist.