C Dominant 7th Chord (C7) on Piano
The C7 chord (C dominant 7th) is built from 4 notes: C – E – G – Bb.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from C | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | root | 0 |
| E | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| G | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| Bb | b7 | minor 7th | 10 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 4 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | C – E – G – Bb | C in the bass |
| 1st inversion | E – G – Bb – C | E in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | G – Bb – C – E | G in the bass |
| 3rd inversion | Bb – C – E – G | Bb in the bass |
How the dominant 7th chord is built
Every dominant 7th chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones), b7 (10 semitones). Starting on C and applying that formula produces C, E, G, Bb. Learn the formula once and you can build a dominant 7th chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain C7
Every note of C7 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on C
Dominant 7th chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a C7 chord?
A C7 chord contains the notes C, E, G, Bb. Those are the 1, 3, 5, b7 degrees measured from the root note C.
How do you play C7 on piano?
Place your thumb on C, then add E and G and Bb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–2–3–5.