Piano chord
Cm7C minor seventh
- C1
- E♭♭3
- G5
- B♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play Cm7 on piano
- Find C: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C, 2 on E♭, 4 on G, 5 on B♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C, 4 on E♭, 2 on G, 1 on B♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C – E♭ – G – B♭
1st inversion · E♭ – G – B♭ – C
2nd inversion · G – B♭ – C – E♭
3rd inversion · B♭ – C – E♭ – G
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Cm7 inversions
Cm7 can be played in 4 positions. In root position C is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: CRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Chords that go with Cm7
The other chords of C minor, the key where Cm7 is home (i7). Songs in this key move between them.
Cm7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C an octave lower, the right hand plays C–E♭–G–B♭.
Cm7 on other instruments
About the Cm7 chord
C minor seventh has 4 notes: C (1), E♭ (♭3), G (5), B♭ (♭7). A minor seventh: a minor triad with the flat seventh. Softer than a plain minor chord, it is the ii chord of jazz and a favourite in R&B.
On the keyboard, start from C and add the other notes above it: C – E♭ – G – B♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so Cm7 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of Cm7 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–G–B♭–C). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G (G–B♭–C–E♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–C–E♭–G).
Cm7 is Cm with one note added: B♭.
Keys that contain Cm7: B flat major (ii7), E flat major (vi7), A flat major (iii7), G minor (iv7), C minor (i7).
Questions
What notes are in the Cm7 chord?
Cm7 (C minor seventh) has 4 notes: C (1), E♭ (♭3), G (5), B♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does Cm7 have?
Cm7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C–E♭–G–B♭); 1st inversion (E♭–G–B♭–C); 2nd inversion (G–B♭–C–E♭); 3rd inversion (B♭–C–E♭–G).
What is the difference between Cm7 and Cm?
Cm7 is Cm with one note added: B♭.
Can I play Cm7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Cm7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.