C Dominant 7th
C7
Notes
C · E · G · B♭
Intervals
- RootC (1P)
- Major 3rdE (3M)
- Perfect 5thG (5P)
- Minor 7thB♭ (7m)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Drop-2 voicings (12)
Drop-3 voicings (8)
Shell voicings (2)
About
The C7 dominant seventh (C–E–G–B♭) is the primary tension-bearing chord in tonal harmony. Its pull toward resolution comes from the tritone between E and B♭ — these two notes want to resolve inward, landing in the V–I cadence on F. The 3rd and ♭7 are essential: they form the tritone, and they distinguish a dominant 7 from a Cm7. The fifth can be freely omitted without weakening the harmonic function. On guitar, shell voicings (1–3–♭7) are common in jazz; full voicings appear in blues and rhythm playing. Compared to CMaj7, dominant 7 is harmonically active and directional — it is a chord that moves.
Chord diagrams
C Dominant 7th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- C Mixolydian (I)
- A Phrygian (III)
- B♭ Diminished (deg 2)
- B♭ Lydian (II)
- D Natural Minor (VII)
- D♭ Diminished (deg 8)
- E Diminished (deg 6)
- E Locrian (VI)
- F Harmonic Minor (V)
- F Major (V)
- F Melodic Minor (V)
- G Diminished (deg 4)
- G Dorian (IV)
- G Melodic Minor (IV)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.