C7 chord (C dominant seventh) on bass
C7 (C dominant seventh) has four notes: C, E, G and B flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. In major keys, C7 is the V7 chord in F major.
How to play C7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | C7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | Cdom7 |
| Notes | C E G Bb |
| Formula | 1 3 5 b7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh |
| Type | Dominant seventh chord |
C7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (3), fret 3 G (5), fret 6 Bb (flat 7), fret 8 C (1), fret 12 E (3), fret 15 G (5), fret 18 Bb (flat 7), fret 20 C (1), fret 24 E (3).
- A string: fret 1 Bb (flat 7), fret 3 C (1), fret 7 E (3), fret 10 G (5), fret 13 Bb (flat 7), fret 15 C (1), fret 19 E (3), fret 22 G (5).
- D string: fret 2 E (3), fret 5 G (5), fret 8 Bb (flat 7), fret 10 C (1), fret 14 E (3), fret 17 G (5), fret 20 Bb (flat 7), fret 22 C (1).
- G string: fret 0 G (5), fret 3 Bb (flat 7), fret 5 C (1), fret 9 E (3), fret 12 G (5), fret 15 Bb (flat 7), fret 17 C (1), fret 21 E (3), fret 24 G (5).
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Questions
What notes are in the C7 chord?
C7 (C dominant seventh) has four notes: C, E, G and B flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. C is the root, E is the major third, G is the perfect fifth and Bb is the minor seventh.
How do you play C7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 8. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is C7 in?
In major keys, C7 is the V7 chord in F major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between C7 and C?
C7 is C (C, E and G) with a flat 7th added: Bb.