Root position C7
C – E – G – B♭
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
C7 Chord on Piano
C7 C E G B♭ Formula 1 3 5 b7 4 notes
Notes
What notes are in the C7 chord?
The C7 chord has 4 notes: C, E, G, B♭. It is the major triad with a minor seventh on top (10 half steps above C): the dominant chord that pulls towards a key a fifth below.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 0 |
| E | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| B♭ | Minor 7th | 10 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play C7
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion C7/E
E – G – B♭ – C
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-2-1
2nd inversion C7/G
G – B♭ – C – E
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
3rd inversion C7/B♭
B♭ – C – E – G
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with C7
Every key where C7 is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the C7 chord?
The C7 chord (C7) is made of C, E, G, B♭. Its formula is 1 3 5 b7 - the root, then the intervals of a dominant 7th chord.
How do you play C7 on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C and play the other notes with fingers 1-2-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-2-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of C7?
root position C7 (C E G B♭); 1st inversion C7/E (E G B♭ C); 2nd inversion C7/G (G B♭ C E); 3rd inversion C7/B♭ (B♭ C E G).
Play it for real
Hold C7 and build a progression on it
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