Cm7 Chord (C minor 7th) on Guitar
Cm7 (C minor 7th) is made of the notes C – Eb – G – Bb. The easiest guitar fingering is 8-10-8-8-8-8 (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Main shape
Alternative shape
How to play Cm7
- Press the 6th string (low E) at fret 8 (C).
- Press the 5th string (A) at fret 10 (G).
- Press the 4th string (D) at fret 8 (Bb).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 8 (Eb).
- Press the 2nd string (B) at fret 8 (G).
- Press the 1st string (high e) at fret 8 (C).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | 8 | C | R |
| 5th string (A) | 10 | G | 5 |
| 4th string (D) | 8 | Bb | b7 |
| 3rd string (G) | 8 | Eb | b3 |
| 2nd string (B) | 8 | G | 5 |
| 1st string (high e) | 8 | C | R |
What is a C minor 7th chord?
A minor 7th chord is a minor triad with a minor seventh added on top.
Notes and formula. Cm7 contains C, Eb, G, Bb. Counted from the root C, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), 5 (perfect 5th), b7 (minor 7th).
Sound. Mellow, warm and relaxed. It is minor without the sadness of a plain minor triad.
Where it is used. Everywhere in funk, soul, R&B, jazz and lo-fi. It is the ii chord in jazz ii-V-I progressions and a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
Tips for playing Cm7
Many minor 7th shapes are easier than the minor chord itself because they lift a finger. Try swapping Am for Am7 in a song you know.
Common mistake: Treating m7 and maj7 as the same. The "m" means the third is minor; the 7 means the seventh is a minor seventh.
Keys that contain Cm7
Cm7 is a diatonic chord, meaning it occurs naturally without accidentals, in these keys:
- Eb major – vi chord
- Ab major – iii chord
- Bb major – ii chord
- C minor – i chord
- F minor – v chord
- G minor – iv chord
Try it in a progression: browse chord progressions for every key.
Scales to play over Cm7
Related chords
Cm7 chord FAQ
What notes are in a Cm7 chord?
Cm7 (C minor 7th) contains the notes C, Eb, G, Bb. The formula is R–b3–5–b7 relative to the root C.
How do you play Cm7 on guitar?
The most common shape for Cm7 is 8-10-8-8-8-8, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is Cm7 an easy guitar chord?
It is rated intermediate. It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Which keys contain Cm7?
Cm7 is a diatonic chord in Eb major (vi), Ab major (iii), Bb major (ii), C minor (i), F minor (v), G minor (iv).
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