Dominant 7th chord · C# root
C#7 chord
- C#1
- E#3
- G#5
- B♭7
The C# dominant 7th chord (also called the Db7 chord — same notes, different spelling) is built from the notes C#, E#, G#, B. A dominant 7th shape you will meet in barre-chord territory.
By Chiye · Updated
What is the C#7 chord?
The C#7 chord (C# dominant 7th) is a dominant 7th chord built from four notes: C#, E#, G#, B — the 1–3–5–♭7 of the C# scale, 4 semitones and 7 semitones and 10 semitones above the root. On guitar it is most often played as a movable shape from fret 4 (x-4-6-4-6-4); shift all fretted notes together to transpose it along the neck. It is rated intermediate. A tense, bluesy chord that wants to resolve down a fifth. Below you will find step-by-step fingering, 3 positions up the neck, audio of every shape, and the real progressions this chord lives inside.
How do you play the C#7 chord on guitar?
Fret 4 barre — a movable shape, so this same fingering works for every root note.
- Lay your index finger flat across the A to high E strings at fret 4, rolled slightly onto its bony edge.
- Press the D string at fret 6 with your ring finger.
- Press the B string at fret 6 with your pinky finger.
- Start your strum on the A string and do not play the low E string at all.
Leave out the lowest fretted note (A string) and practise the remaining strings. The bass changes, and the upper strings may still need a smaller barre; check that the third and other colour tones stay clear. x-x-6-4-6-4
How do you make C#7 sound clean?
C#7 uses the A7 shape at fret 4. The G string stays on the barre at fret 4; the D and B strings are at fret 6. Fretting the G string at 6 restores plain C# major.
C#7 → F#maj7: the V7–I of F#. Then hold the 4th-fret barre and swap C#7 for C#m7 — the second string, one fret, major third for minor.
In real songs
C#7 in songs
None of the 90 songs charted on this site use C#7 yet — it is a colour chord rather than a songwriting staple.
What other ways can you play C#7 up the neck?
2 more positions below. These are the same notes in a different part of the neck. Choosing the position closest to the chord you just played is what stops your hand jumping between changes.
Position 2 · Fret 9 barre
Because nothing rings open, you can move this whole shape to any fret and it keeps the same quality — only the letter name changes.
A single bar covers the rest of the strings here. If the inside strings stay dead, move the bar a millimetre closer to the fret wire before you try pressing harder.
Position 3 · Fret 11
Because nothing rings open, you can move this whole shape to any fret and it keeps the same quality — only the letter name changes.
Up at fret 11 the frets are close together, so use a lighter touch than you would in the open position — squeezing here pulls the notes sharp.
The theory behind C#7
C#7 is spelled C# – E# – G# – B — the 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 of the C# scale, which is the root plus 4 semitones, 7 semitones, 10 semitones. A tense, bluesy chord that wants to resolve down a fifth.
The flat seventh is a whole tone below the octave, and it is the note that creates the pull toward the chord a fifth below C#7. Mute that note by accident and the chord turns into a plain major triad.
What key is the C#7 chord in?
C#7 is the V7 in the key of F# — in both F# major and F# minor — which is exactly why it resolves to F#.
the dominant — the flat seventh is what pulls it home
the same dominant job in the minor key
C#7 on other instruments
C# – E# – G# – B — the highlighted black keys are the sharps or flats; play each note once, then move them into one hand position.
Take it to the practice room
