My Chord Finder
Cmaj7
1, 3, 5, 7 · C, E, G, B
adds B to the major triad C, E, G.
7th Chords Guitar
Maj7 is 1, 3, 5, 7; m7 is 1, b3, 5, b7; 7 is 1, 3, 5, b7; m7b5 is 1, b3, b5, b7; dim7 is 1, b3, b5, bb7.
Cm7
1, b3, 5, b7 · C, Eb, G, Bb
adds Bb to the minor triad C, Eb, G.
This shape leaves the fifth out. The written notes still list all four.
C7
1, 3, 5, b7 · C, E, G, Bb
adds Bb to the major triad C, E, G.
This shape leaves the fifth out. The written notes still list all four.
Cm7b5
1, b3, b5, b7 · C, Eb, Gb, Bb
adds Bb to the diminished triad C, Eb, Gb. Next to C minor, the fifth moves from G to Gb.
Cdim7
1, b3, b5, bb7 · C, Eb, Gb, Bbb
adds Bbb to the diminished triad C, Eb, Gb. Next to Cm7b5, the seventh moves from Bb to Bbb.
× mute · ○ open · green root · terracotta other chord tones
Numbers show a suggested finger: 1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 pinky. A bar means one finger holds several strings.
Pick a root and see all five
The five diagrams are C. Change the root for the other eleven. Check a shape from the thick low E string to the thin high E string: play each open or fretted note, then strum only the strings that are not marked X. One named chord can also be opened in the chord finder.
Five seventh chords, one added note
Major 7 (maj7) is 1, 3, 5, 7. On C that is C, E, G, B: the major triad plus B, one fret under the octave.
Minor 7 (m7) is 1, b3, 5, b7. On C that is C, Eb, G, Bb: the minor triad plus Bb. The string-by-string minor seventh lesson stays on minor seventh chord guitar.
Dominant 7 (written 7) is 1, 3, 5, b7. On C that is C, E, G, Bb: the same major triad as Cmaj7, with B lowered to Bb.
Half-diminished (m7b5) is 1, b3, b5, b7. On C that is C, Eb, Gb, Bb: C minor's G moves to Gb, and Bb is added.
Diminished 7 (dim7) is 1, b3, b5, bb7. On C that is C, Eb, Gb, Bbb. Bbb sounds like A, one fret under the half-diminished seventh. Half-diminished and diminished sevenths are compared further on diminished chord guitar.
The formulas follow Open Music Theory: seventh chords. These shapes are standard tuning with no capo. Four of them leave the fifth out: Cm7, C7, C#7 and D#7. The written notes still list all four. Finger numbers are a suggestion, not the only fingering.
Five seventh chords for every root
Twelve roots, five seventh chords each. The fret numbers run from the thick low E string to the thin high E string. X means leave that string quiet. 0 means play it open. The chart is on the page even if scripts are off. For how X, O and fret numbers work, see how to read guitar chords.
The same five kinds compared as families, with the semitone gaps between their notes, the seventh chords of a major key and one line per root, are on seventh chords.
C
Cmaj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · C, E, G, B · adds B to the major triad C, E, G · frets X 3 2 0 0 0 · sounding C3 E3 G3 B3 E4
Cm7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · C, Eb, G, Bb · adds Bb to the minor triad C, Eb, G · frets X 3 1 3 1 X · sounding C3 D#3 A#3 C4 · fifth left out of this shape
C7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · C, E, G, Bb · adds Bb to the major triad C, E, G · frets X 3 2 3 1 0 · sounding C3 E3 A#3 C4 E4 · fifth left out of this shape
Cm7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · C, Eb, Gb, Bb · adds Bb to the diminished triad C, Eb, Gb. Next to C minor, the fifth moves from G to Gb · frets X 3 1 3 1 2 · sounding C3 D#3 A#3 C4 F#4
Cdim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · C, Eb, Gb, Bbb · adds Bbb to the diminished triad C, Eb, Gb. Next to Cm7b5, the seventh moves from Bb to Bbb · frets X 3 1 2 1 2 · sounding C3 D#3 A3 C4 F#4
C#
C#maj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · C#, E#, G#, B# · adds B# to the major triad C#, E#, G# · frets X 4 6 5 6 4 · sounding C#3 G#3 C4 F4 G#4
C#m7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · C#, E, G#, B · adds B to the minor triad C#, E, G# · frets X 4 2 1 0 0 · sounding C#3 E3 G#3 B3 E4
C#7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · C#, E#, G#, B · adds B to the major triad C#, E#, G# · frets X 4 3 4 2 X · sounding C#3 F3 B3 C#4 · fifth left out of this shape
C#m7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · C#, E, G, B · adds B to the diminished triad C#, E, G. Next to C# minor, the fifth moves from G# to G · frets X 4 2 0 0 0 · sounding C#3 E3 G3 B3 E4
C#dim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · C#, E, G, Bb · adds Bb to the diminished triad C#, E, G. Next to C#m7b5, the seventh moves from B to Bb · frets X 4 2 3 2 3 · sounding C#3 E3 A#3 C#4 G4
D
Dmaj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · D, F#, A, C# · adds C# to the major triad D, F#, A · frets X X 0 2 2 2 · sounding D3 A3 C#4 F#4
Dm7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · D, F, A, C · adds C to the minor triad D, F, A · frets X X 0 2 1 1 · sounding D3 A3 C4 F4
D7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · D, F#, A, C · adds C to the major triad D, F#, A · frets X X 0 2 1 2 · sounding D3 A3 C4 F#4
Dm7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · D, F, Ab, C · adds C to the diminished triad D, F, Ab. Next to D minor, the fifth moves from A to Ab · frets X X 0 1 1 1 · sounding D3 G#3 C4 F4
Ddim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · D, F, Ab, Cb · adds Cb to the diminished triad D, F, Ab. Next to Dm7b5, the seventh moves from C to Cb · frets X X 0 1 0 1 · sounding D3 G#3 B3 F4
D#
D#maj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · D#, F##, A#, C## · adds C## to the major triad D#, F##, A# · frets X X 1 3 3 3 · sounding D#3 A#3 D4 G4
D#m7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · D#, F#, A#, C# · adds C# to the minor triad D#, F#, A# · frets X X 1 3 2 2 · sounding D#3 A#3 C#4 F#4
D#7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · D#, F##, A#, C# · adds C# to the major triad D#, F##, A# · frets X 6 5 6 4 X · sounding D#3 G3 C#4 D#4 · fifth left out of this shape
D#m7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · D#, F#, A, C# · adds C# to the diminished triad D#, F#, A. Next to D# minor, the fifth moves from A# to A · frets X X 1 2 2 2 · sounding D#3 A3 C#4 F#4
D#dim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · D#, F#, A, C · adds C to the diminished triad D#, F#, A. Next to D#m7b5, the seventh moves from C# to C · frets X X 1 2 1 2 · sounding D#3 A3 C4 F#4
E
Emaj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · E, G#, B, D# · adds D# to the major triad E, G#, B · frets 0 2 1 1 0 0 · sounding E2 B2 D#3 G#3 B3 E4
Em7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · E, G, B, D · adds D to the minor triad E, G, B · frets 0 2 0 0 0 0 · sounding E2 B2 D3 G3 B3 E4
E7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · E, G#, B, D · adds D to the major triad E, G#, B · frets 0 2 0 1 0 0 · sounding E2 B2 D3 G#3 B3 E4
Em7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · E, G, Bb, D · adds D to the diminished triad E, G, Bb. Next to E minor, the fifth moves from B to Bb · frets 0 1 0 0 X X · sounding E2 A#2 D3 G3
Edim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · E, G, Bb, Db · adds Db to the diminished triad E, G, Bb. Next to Em7b5, the seventh moves from D to Db · frets 0 1 2 0 2 0 · sounding E2 A#2 E3 G3 C#4 E4
F
Fmaj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · F, A, C, E · adds E to the major triad F, A, C · frets X X 3 2 1 0 · sounding F3 A3 C4 E4
Fm7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · F, Ab, C, Eb · adds Eb to the minor triad F, Ab, C · frets 1 3 1 1 1 1 · sounding F2 C3 D#3 G#3 C4 F4
F7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · F, A, C, Eb · adds Eb to the major triad F, A, C · frets 1 3 1 2 1 1 · sounding F2 C3 D#3 A3 C4 F4
Fm7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · F, Ab, Cb, Eb · adds Eb to the diminished triad F, Ab, Cb. Next to F minor, the fifth moves from C to Cb · frets 1 2 1 1 0 1 · sounding F2 B2 D#3 G#3 B3 F4
Fdim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · F, Ab, Cb, Ebb · adds Ebb to the diminished triad F, Ab, Cb. Next to Fm7b5, the seventh moves from Eb to Ebb · frets 1 2 0 1 0 1 · sounding F2 B2 D3 G#3 B3 F4
F#
F#maj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · F#, A#, C#, E# · adds E# to the major triad F#, A#, C# · frets X X 4 3 2 1 · sounding F#3 A#3 C#4 F4
F#m7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · F#, A, C#, E · adds E to the minor triad F#, A, C# · frets 2 0 2 2 2 0 · sounding F#2 A2 E3 A3 C#4 E4
F#7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · F#, A#, C#, E · adds E to the major triad F#, A#, C# · frets 2 4 2 3 2 0 · sounding F#2 C#3 E3 A#3 C#4 E4
F#m7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · F#, A, C, E · adds E to the diminished triad F#, A, C. Next to F# minor, the fifth moves from C# to C · frets 2 0 2 2 1 0 · sounding F#2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4
F#dim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · F#, A, C, Eb · adds Eb to the diminished triad F#, A, C. Next to F#m7b5, the seventh moves from E to Eb · frets 2 0 1 2 1 2 · sounding F#2 A2 D#3 A3 C4 F#4
G
Gmaj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · G, B, D, F# · adds F# to the major triad G, B, D · frets 3 2 0 0 0 2 · sounding G2 B2 D3 G3 B3 F#4
Gm7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · G, Bb, D, F · adds F to the minor triad G, Bb, D · frets 3 5 3 3 3 3 · sounding G2 D3 F3 A#3 D4 G4
G7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · G, B, D, F · adds F to the major triad G, B, D · frets 3 2 0 0 0 1 · sounding G2 B2 D3 G3 B3 F4
Gm7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · G, Bb, Db, F · adds F to the diminished triad G, Bb, Db. Next to G minor, the fifth moves from D to Db · frets 3 1 3 3 2 1 · sounding G2 A#2 F3 A#3 C#4 F4
Gdim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · G, Bb, Db, Fb · adds Fb to the diminished triad G, Bb, Db. Next to Gm7b5, the seventh moves from F to Fb · frets 3 1 2 0 2 0 · sounding G2 A#2 E3 G3 C#4 E4
G#
G#maj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · G#, B#, D#, F## · adds F## to the major triad G#, B#, D# · frets X X 6 5 4 3 · sounding G#3 C4 D#4 G4
G#m7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · G#, B, D#, F# · adds F# to the minor triad G#, B, D# · frets 4 2 4 4 4 2 · sounding G#2 B2 F#3 B3 D#4 F#4
G#7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · G#, B#, D#, F# · adds F# to the major triad G#, B#, D# · frets 4 6 4 5 4 4 · sounding G#2 D#3 F#3 C4 D#4 G#4
G#m7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · G#, B, D, F# · adds F# to the diminished triad G#, B, D. Next to G# minor, the fifth moves from D# to D · frets 4 2 4 4 3 2 · sounding G#2 B2 F#3 B3 D4 F#4
G#dim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · G#, B, D, F · adds F to the diminished triad G#, B, D. Next to G#m7b5, the seventh moves from F# to F · frets 4 5 3 4 3 X · sounding G#2 D3 F3 B3 D4
A
Amaj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · A, C#, E, G# · adds G# to the major triad A, C#, E · frets X 0 2 1 2 0 · sounding A2 E3 G#3 C#4 E4
Am7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · A, C, E, G · adds G to the minor triad A, C, E · frets X 0 2 0 1 0 · sounding A2 E3 G3 C4 E4
A7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · A, C#, E, G · adds G to the major triad A, C#, E · frets X 0 2 0 2 0 · sounding A2 E3 G3 C#4 E4
Am7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · A, C, Eb, G · adds G to the diminished triad A, C, Eb. Next to A minor, the fifth moves from E to Eb · frets X 0 1 0 1 X · sounding A2 D#3 G3 C4
Adim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · A, C, Eb, Gb · adds Gb to the diminished triad A, C, Eb. Next to Am7b5, the seventh moves from G to Gb · frets X 0 1 2 1 2 · sounding A2 D#3 A3 C4 F#4
A#
A#maj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · A#, C##, E#, G## · adds G## to the major triad A#, C##, E# · frets X 1 3 2 3 1 · sounding A#2 F3 A3 D4 F4
A#m7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · A#, C#, E#, G# · adds G# to the minor triad A#, C#, E# · frets X 1 3 1 2 1 · sounding A#2 F3 G#3 C#4 F4
A#7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · A#, C##, E#, G# · adds G# to the major triad A#, C##, E# · frets X 1 0 1 3 1 · sounding A#2 D3 G#3 D4 F4
A#m7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · A#, C#, E, G# · adds G# to the diminished triad A#, C#, E. Next to A# minor, the fifth moves from E# to E · frets X 1 2 1 2 0 · sounding A#2 E3 G#3 C#4 E4
A#dim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · A#, C#, E, G · adds G to the diminished triad A#, C#, E. Next to A#m7b5, the seventh moves from G# to G · frets X 1 2 0 2 0 · sounding A#2 E3 G3 C#4 E4
B
Bmaj7 · 1, 3, 5, 7 · B, D#, F#, A# · adds A# to the major triad B, D#, F# · frets X 2 1 3 0 2 · sounding B2 D#3 A#3 B3 F#4
Bm7 · 1, b3, 5, b7 · B, D, F#, A · adds A to the minor triad B, D, F# · frets X 2 0 2 0 2 · sounding B2 D3 A3 B3 F#4
B7 · 1, 3, 5, b7 · B, D#, F#, A · adds A to the major triad B, D#, F# · frets X 2 1 2 0 2 · sounding B2 D#3 A3 B3 F#4
Bm7b5 · 1, b3, b5, b7 · B, D, F, A · adds A to the diminished triad B, D, F. Next to B minor, the fifth moves from F# to F · frets X 2 0 2 0 1 · sounding B2 D3 A3 B3 F4
Bdim7 · 1, b3, b5, bb7 · B, D, F, Ab · adds Ab to the diminished triad B, D, F. Next to Bm7b5, the seventh moves from A to Ab · frets X 2 0 1 0 1 · sounding B2 D3 G#3 B3 F4
Questions people ask about 7th chords
What is the difference between a 7th chord and a maj7?
A plain 7 is the dominant seventh: 1, 3, 5, b7. Maj7 is 1, 3, 5, 7. On C, C7 has Bb and Cmaj7 has B. The seventh of C7 is one fret lower.
When do you use a dominant 7?
Use it when the chart prints a plain 7, including a V chord that moves home, such as G7 toward C. It is not a stand-in for maj7. Check the melody before you swap them. Hear both shapes above and compare Bb with B.
What are the five 7th chords on guitar?
Major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, half-diminished (m7b5) and diminished 7. The chart lists each one for C through B. Sharp roots are included. A chart of only C, D, E, F, G, A and B leaves five roots out.
Why does Cdim7 write Bbb instead of A?
The diminished seventh is a double-flat 7, not a 6. From C, that letter is B, lowered twice: Bbb. On the guitar it sounds like A. The sounding-note line uses the sharp names you can match to the diagram.
Do these shapes work with a capo or in drop D?
No. They assume standard E–A–D–G–B–E and no capo. Open strings do not move with the hand. Drop D and a capo need a different shape.
Where is the longer minor seventh lesson?
Open Am7, finger by finger, is on minor seventh chord guitar. This page only lines the five types up beside one root.