C dominant 7th · Piano
C7 Chord on Piano
The C7 chord (C dominant 7th) is built from the notes C, E, G and A#. The keyboard diagram below shows exactly which keys to press.
Chord diagrams
Notes in this chord
- C
- E
- G
- A♯
Degrees: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7
How to play
To play C7 on piano, press C, E, G and A# together. In root position the lowest note is C, and the finger numbers follow the keys left to right in the diagram.
Theory behind the chord
Dominant seventh chords add a minor seventh on top of a major triad. The tension between the third and the seventh is what makes them pull towards the chord a fourth above — the engine of blues and jazz turnarounds. On C7 this structure sits on the root C, so the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 map onto C, E, G and A#.
Frequently asked questions
- Which notes are in the C7 chord?
- C7 contains the notes C, E, G and A#. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7.
Practise C7 on your phone
Minory bundles the full chord library with a tuner, metronome and repertoire notebook — and it all works offline.
