C7 guitar chord
The C dominant 7th chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in C7
- Notes
- C – E – G – B♭
- Formula
- 1 – 3 – 5 – b7
- Name
- C dominant 7th
C7C · E · G · B♭
6 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Open
- C shape · 1st fret
- A shape · 3rd fret
- G shape · 5th fret
- E shape · 8th fret
- D shape · 10th fret
What to play over C7
Start with the chord's own notes — C, E, G, B♭ — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- C Mixolydian mode
The dominant chord’s own scale: its four notes plus the 2, 4 and 6.
- C major pentatonic scale
Five notes that sit right on top of the chord.
- C blues scale
For blues: the ♭3 rubbing against the chord’s 3 is the whole point.
- C Phrygian dominant scale
When the chord resolves to a minor chord a fourth up (V7 to i): the ♭9 and ♭13 pull hard.
Questions
What notes are in a C7 chord?
C7 has 4 notes: C, E, G, B♭. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – b7.
What scale goes with C7?
C Mixolydian mode is the place to start. The dominant chord’s own scale: its four notes plus the 2, 4 and 6.