C minor seventh chord (Cm7)
The C minor seventh chord (Cm7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, C, E♭, G and B♭ (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the ii7 in B♭ major and the vi7 in E♭ major; its relative is E♭ major seventh, and G dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play C minor 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-3-1-3-1-3, barre at fret 1, with C in the bass (fingers x-2-1-3-1-4).
- Voicing 2: 8-10-8-8-8-8, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 8, with C in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-3-5-3-4-3, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 3, with C in the bass.
Notes of the C minor seventh chord on the fretboard
C minor 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): G (3) · B♭ (6) · C (8) · E♭ (11)
- String 5 (A): B♭ (1) · C (3) · E♭ (6) · G (10)
- String 4 (D): E♭ (1) · G (5) · B♭ (8) · C (10)
- String 3 (G): G (0) · B♭ (3) · C (5) · E♭ (8) · G (12)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · E♭ (4) · G (8) · B♭ (11)
- String 1 (E): G (3) · B♭ (6) · C (8) · E♭ (11)
Formula and intervals of C minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- C: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- E♭: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above C
- G: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above C
- B♭: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above C
C minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 3-3-3-3, barre at fret 3; it sounds B♭, E♭, G and C.
C minor seventh on piano
- Keys: C4, E♭4, G4 and B♭4.
Inversions of C minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: C, E♭, G and B♭, with C in the bass.
- First inversion (Cm7/E♭): E♭, G, B♭ and C, with E♭ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Cm7/G): G, B♭, C and E♭, with G in the bass.
- Third inversion (Cm7/B♭): B♭, C, E♭ and G, with B♭ in the bass.
Keys that use C minor seventh
C minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ major (2 flats) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| A♭ major (4 flats) | iii7 | Mediant |
| E♭ major (3 flats) | vi7 | Submediant |
| C minor (3 flats) | i7 | Tonic |
| G minor (2 flats) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| F minor (4 flats) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with C minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in B♭ major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Cm7 – F7 – B♭maj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C minor seventh chord?
C, E♭, G and B♭: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use C minor seventh?
Mainly as the ii7 in B♭ major and the vi7 in E♭ major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
What is the relative of C minor seventh?
E♭ major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where E♭ major seventh is Imaj7, C minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.