Cm7 Guitar Chords Explained | C Minor Seventh
Welcome to our tutorial on the C m7 chord, a member of the Minor Chords family. This chord is constructed with the notes C, Eb, G, and Bb, which are derived from the intervals 1, b3, 5, and b7. In music, these intervals are also known as the Root, Minor Third, Perfect Fifth, and Minor Seventh respectively.
Understanding these intervals and how they stack together to form chords is crucial in mastering the guitar. For a more comprehensive understanding of this, you may want to check out our tutorial on building chords by stacking intervals.
The C m7 chord is commonly used in various genres of music, including jazz. If you're interested in exploring more advanced chord progressions that often use the m7 chord type, our tutorial on jazz chord progressions is a great resource.
In this tutorial, we will be providing you with chord diagrams and fretboard patterns that clearly show the tones composing the C m7 chord. If you're unsure about how to denote these chords depending on the intervals that compose them, our tutorial on chord notation may be helpful.
Remember, practice is key when it comes to mastering any guitar chord. So take your time, be patient, and before you know it, the C m7 chord will be second nature to you.
Notes that compose the C m7 chord:
Formula of the Minor Seventh chord:
Cm7 Guitar Chord Shapes
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
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Position 3
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Position 4
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Position 5
Barre
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Position 6
Barre
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Position 7
Barre
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Position 8
Barre
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Position 9
Barre
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Position 10
Barre
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You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
prefer a printable pdf, download
the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf
FAQ
What are the specific notes and intervals that form the C m7 chord?
The C m7 chord is constructed using four specific notes: C, Eb, G, and Bb. In terms of intervals relative to the root note C, these correspond to the Root (1), Minor Third (b3), Perfect Fifth (5), and Minor Seventh (b7), respectively.
Why is this chord called 'C m7' and not just 'C minor'?
The 'm' in C m7 indicates the presence of a minor third (Eb), which is characteristic of minor chords. The '7' signifies the inclusion of a minor seventh (Bb) interval, distinguishing it from a simple C minor triad (which only contains C, Eb, G).
What do the interval numbers (1, b3, 5, b7) represent when building the C m7 chord?
These numbers describe the relationship of each note to the root note (C) within the chord. '1' is the Root (C), 'b3' is the Minor Third (Eb), '5' is the Perfect Fifth (G), and 'b7' is the Minor Seventh (Bb). Understanding these intervals is fundamental to how chords are structured.
In what musical styles is the C m7 chord frequently used?
The C m7 chord is a versatile and common chord used across various musical genres. It is particularly prominent and frequently employed in jazz music, where it forms the basis for many common and advanced chord progressions.