Intermediate · No barre

C7

3241

Fingering and position

Place the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, the little finger on the 3rd fret of the G string, the index on the 1st fret of the B string. One string rings open. One string is muted, do not play it.

Difficulty

The C7 chord takes a little practice. Best tackled after the basic open chords.

Often paired chords

Exercise: shuffle it in

A chord on its own gets forgotten. The right reflex: shuffle it with the chords you already know. Launch a shuffle that includes this chord and play it 10 times in different contexts.

The C7 chord truly comes alive in motion. Launch a shuffle that includes it and play it across 3 or 4 different contexts: that is the best way to embed it in finger memory. Category: Intermediate.

Play a shuffle with C7

Frequently asked questions

What is the fingering for the C7 chord on guitar?
Place the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, the little finger on the 3rd fret of the G string, the index on the 1st fret of the B string. One string rings open. One string is muted, do not play it.
Is the C7 chord easy for a beginner?
The C7 chord takes a little practice. Best tackled after the basic open chords.
Does the C7 chord require a barre?
No, C7 is played without a barre: it is an open chord, accessible to beginners.
Which chords pair well with C7 on guitar?
C7 pairs naturally with F, G, Dm, Am. Practise them in a shuffle to memorise the transitions.

Further reading