AdvancedDominant 7th

C#7 Chord

The C#7 is a dominant 7th chord that sounds bluesy, tense, and yearning to resolve. Dominant 7th chords are the engine of blues and jazz. Their inherent tension wants to resolve, making them perfect for transitions and turnarounds.

Notes:C#Root (1)FMajor 3rd (3)G#Perfect 5th (5)BMinor 7th (b7)

Open Position

C#79fr134211

Chord Diagrams

Position — Fret 9

Uses a barre chord technique

C#79fr134211

Barre Shape — Fret 4

Uses a barre chord technique

C#74fr12341

How to Play C#7

Follow these steps for the open position fingering:

Barre technique: Press your index finger flat across all strings at fret 9 to form the barre, then add the remaining fingers on top.
#StringInstructionNote
1Low E (6th string)Fret 9 with your index fingerC#
2A (5th string)Fret 11 with your ring fingerF
3D (4th string)Fret 11 with your pinky fingerG#
4G (3rd string)Fret 10 with your middle fingerB
5B (2nd string)Fret 9 with your index fingerC#
6High E (1st string)Fret 9 with your index fingerF

= Open string (no fingers needed)

= Muted string (don't play)

= Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret

Notes in C#7

The C#7 chord is built from 4 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:

C#
Root (1)
The root — gives the chord its name
F
Major 3rd (3)
The major third — creates the bright sound
G#
Perfect 5th (5)
The fifth — adds power and stability
B
Minor 7th (b7)
Extended tone — adds richness and color

Other C# Chords

Explore other chord types built on the same root note:

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