Cm7 (C minor seventh) is built from 4 notes: C, E♭, G, B♭.
- Croot
- E♭minor third
- Gperfect fifth
- B♭minor seventh
Formula: 1, b3, 5, b7
How to play Cm7 on guitar
x 3 5 3 4 38 10 8 8 8 8Read the diagrams with the low E string on the left. × means do not play that string, ○ means play it open.
Easier way: there is no open Cm7 shape, so it is usually played with one of the movable shapes above. With a capo you can use a shape you already know: capo on fret 1 and play the Bm7 shape, or capo on fret 3 and play the Am7 shape.
How to play Cm7 on piano
Play C, E♭, G, B♭ together. With your right hand, use fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb on C). Your left hand can play C an octave lower for a fuller sound.
Where Cm7 is used
Cm7 fits in three major keys: it is the two chord (ii7) in B♭ major, the three chord (iii7) in A♭ major and the six chord (vi7) in E♭ major. It is also the home chord (i7) of C minor.
The most common place you will meet it is the ii-V-I progression: Cm7 - F7 - B♭maj7. That move is the backbone of jazz standards and shows up in plenty of pop and soul songs too.
Compared with plain Cm, the added B♭ makes the chord sound smoother and less sad.
Related chords
Change this chord into another key with the Chord Transposer, or look up any other chord or scale in the Chord and Scale Finder.