Sowlea

C7 chord on guitar: fingering and notes

C7 is a dominant seventh chord made of C, E, G and B♭. This shape uses 5 strings in open position.

×3241EADGBE
Read the diagram as if the guitar stands in front of you: thickest string on the left, the nut at the top. Numbers are fingers (1 index … 4 little), ○ means play the string open, × means don’t play it.

Where each finger goes

  1. Ring finger on string 5 (A), fret 3.
  2. Middle finger on string 4 (D), fret 2.
  3. Little finger on string 3 (G), fret 3.
  4. Index finger on string 2 (B), fret 1.
  5. Let string 1 (high E) ring open.
  6. Don’t play string 6 (low E): start your strum on string 5 (A).

Notes in the chord

Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7

StringFretNoteInterval
string 5 (A)3Croot
string 4 (D)2Emajor third
string 3 (G)3B♭minor seventh
string 2 (B)1Croot
string 1 (high E)openEmajor third

This shape leaves out the fifth (G), which is common for seventh chords: the chord still sounds complete.

Check that every string rings

  1. Pick the strings one at a time from string 5 (A) to string 1. Every note should ring for about a second without buzzing or going dull.
  2. A dull or muted note usually means a fingertip is leaning on the next string: arch the finger so only the tip touches.
  3. A buzzing note usually means the finger is too far from the fret wire: slide it closer without pressing harder.
  4. Strings you don’t play should stay silent: aim the strum, or touch them lightly with a free finger.

Practise: change between C7 and F

  1. Set the metronome to 60 BPM in 4/4 (the button below applies these settings).
  2. Strum C7 once on beat 1 and let it ring through beats 2, 3 and 4.
  3. During beat 4, lift your fingers and move to F so it sounds exactly on the next beat 1.
  4. Keep alternating C7 and F for eight bars. When three changes in a row land on the beat with every string ringing, raise the tempo by 5 BPM.

What to listen for: the new chord starts on the click of beat 1, not after it, and no string goes silent during the change.

Practise at 60 BPM

Where this chord is used

  • In F major it is the V7 chord.
  • In F minor it is the V7 chord.

Further reading

Fingerings and explanations by Sowlea. Each shape is checked automatically: the notes it sounds in standard tuning must be exactly the notes of the chord.