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Cm7 chord on guitar

Cm7 (C minor seventh) is C, E♭, G and B♭. It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 3rd fret, written x35343. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 3rd fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 2nd string, 4th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Cm7

C minor seventh · C E♭ G B♭ · 1 ♭3 5 ♭7

  • 3rd fret

    Barre chord, root on the 5th string

    3fr13121CGB♭E♭G

    x35343

  • 8th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    8fr131111CGB♭E♭GC

    8-10-8-8-8-8

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are C, the root.

How to play Cm7

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Barre chord, root on the 5th string · 3rd fret

    x35343
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 3rd fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 2nd string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 5th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

  2. 2. Barre chord, root on the 6th string · 8th fret

    8-10-8-8-8-8
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 8th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 10th fret.

Notes in the Cm7 chord

Cm7 is C, E♭, G and B♭, and it sounds mellow and smooth, the everyday chord of R&B, soul and lo-fi. From C, count 3 half steps up to E♭, 4 more to G and 3 more to B♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 5 ♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with C lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Cm7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Cm7

F7131211Cm7 to F7 is ii7 to V7, the first half of jazz’s ii–V–I.A♭maj74x554xCm7 to A♭maj7 is i7 to VImaj7, the lift R&B and lo-fi loops are built on.Dm7xx0211Cm7 to Dm7 is ii7 to iii7, one step up in the same key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on C

CCmC7Cmaj7Csus2Csus4Cadd9C9C6CdimCm7♭5Cdim7Caug

Minor seventh chords on other notes

C♯m7Dm7E♭m7Em7Fm7F♯m7Gm7G♯m7Am7B♭m7Bm7

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Cm7 on guitar?

It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 3rd fret, written x35343. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 3rd fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 2nd string, 4th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

What notes are in the Cm7 chord?

Cm7 is C, E♭, G and B♭. In the shape written x35343, the 5th to 1st strings play C, G, B♭, E♭ and G.

Is Cm7 a barre chord?

Usually, yes: it has no open shape. The barre at the 3rd fret (x35343) is the one most players use; the same shape moved to another fret plays another root.

How many ways can you play Cm7 on guitar?

This page shows two: x35343 (3rd fret) and 8-10-8-8-8-8 (8th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Cm7?

Yes. “Make a beat in C minor” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in C minor on Cm A♭ E♭ B♭, the key where Cm7 is the i7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in C minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in C minor on Cm A♭ E♭ B♭, the key where Cm7 is the i7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in C minorAll guitar chords

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