C dominant seventh chord (C7)
The C dominant seventh chord (C7) is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a minor seventh on top, C, E, G and B♭ (root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the V7 in F major and the V7 in F minor, and it wants to resolve to F major, a perfect fourth higher.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play C dominant seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-3-2-3-1-0, open position, with C in the bass (fingers x-3-2-4-1-0).
- Voicing 2: 8-10-8-9-8-8, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 8, with C in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-3-5-3-5-3, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 3, with C in the bass.
Notes of the C dominant seventh chord on the fretboard
C dominant seventh has 4 notes: C, E, G and B♭. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E (0) · G (3) · B♭ (6) · C (8) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): B♭ (1) · C (3) · E (7) · G (10)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · G (5) · B♭ (8) · C (10)
- String 3 (G): G (0) · B♭ (3) · C (5) · E (9) · G (12)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · E (5) · G (8) · B♭ (11)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · G (3) · B♭ (6) · C (8) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of C dominant seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-10.
- C: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- E: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above C
- G: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above C
- B♭: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above C
C dominant seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 0-0-0-1; it sounds G, C, E and B♭.
C dominant seventh on piano
- Keys: C4, E4, G4 and B♭4.
Inversions of C dominant seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: C, E, G and B♭, with C in the bass.
- First inversion (C7/E): E, G, B♭ and C, with E in the bass.
- Second inversion (C7/G): G, B♭, C and E, with G in the bass.
- Third inversion (C7/B♭): B♭, C, E and G, with B♭ in the bass.
Keys that use C dominant seventh
C dominant seventh appears in 3 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F major (1 flat) | V7 | Dominant |
| D minor (1 flat) | VII7 | Subtonic |
| F minor (harmonic minor, 4 flats) | V7 | Dominant |
Progressions with C dominant seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in F major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Gm7 – C7 – Fmaj7
- 12-bar blues in F major (I7–IV7–V7): F7 – B♭7 – C7
- Minor cadence in F minor (i–iv–V7): Fm – B♭m – C7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C dominant seventh chord?
C, E, G and B♭: root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7.
Which keys use C dominant seventh?
Mainly as the V7 in F major and the V7 in F minor. In total it appears in 3 major and minor keys.
What chord does C dominant seventh resolve to?
As a dominant seventh, C dominant seventh (C, E, G and B♭) resolves naturally to F major: its third rises a half step to the new tonic and its seventh falls to the third of the next chord.