C7 chord inversions

C7/E, C7/G and C7/Bb are the first, second and third inversions of the C7. This means that the bass tone is shifting from C to E, G or B flat.


C7/E

  • C7/E chord diagram 032310

C7/G

  • C7/G chord diagram

C7/Bb

  • C7/Bb chord diagram

Theory and information

All these chords consist of the notes C, E, G, Bb. The difference is that the order of notes shifts. E is the bass note in the first inversion, G is the bass note in the second inversion and Bb is the bass note in the third inversion.

Comments

C7/E (032310) is a C dominant 7th with E in the bass and an omitted 5th. In this chord, the first string can be omitted. Concerning the pictured C7/G, the index finger should touch the 5th string slightly. It's also possible to place the thumb on the sixth string and use 332310 instead.

Alternative fingerings

C7/E can also be played as 012010, similar with C7/Bb and with only one high C note. In a similar fashion, C7/G can alternatively be played as 312010. A fingerpicking option for C7/Bb is X1X010.

Movable shapes

Versions with movable barre shapes:

C7/G: 335353
C7/Bb: X12313

Alternative chord names

C7/Bb is identical with C7/A# and C/Bb.

Try in a chord progression

Dm7/G - C7/E - F

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