Piano chord
C7C dominant seventh
- C1
- E3
- G5
- B♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play C7 on piano
- Find C: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C, 3 on E, 4 on G, 5 on B♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C, 3 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.
C7 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: CRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: ERight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with C7
The other chords of F major, the key where C7 is home (V7). Songs in this key move between them.
C7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C an octave lower, the right hand plays C–E–G–B♭.
C7 on other instruments
About the C7 chord
To build C dominant seventh, take these 4 notes from the root up: C (1), E (3), G (5), B♭ (♭7). A dominant seventh: a major triad with the flat seventh on top. It creates tension that wants to resolve, usually to the chord a fifth below.
The keys are C – E – G – B♭, counted up from C; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 10 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold C7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of C7 the root moves up and another note takes 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).
Compared with C, C7 has one more note, B♭.
You meet C7 in these keys: F major (V7), D minor (VII7), F minor (V7).
Questions
What notes are in the C7 chord?
C7 (C dominant seventh) has 4 notes: C (1), E (3), G (5), B♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does C7 have?
C7 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 C7 and C?
Compared with C, C7 has one more note, B♭.
Can I play C7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position C7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.