C minor 7th chord on piano
The C minor 7th chord is C–Eb–G–Bb. Tap the keys below to hear it.
Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
Tap the keys to hear them
Cm7 layers a Bb onto the C minor triad. It is the ii chord in Bb major, and funk and soul riffs sit on it for bars at a time without needing to move.
How the C minor 7th chord is built
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-2-3-5 land for Cm7.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | C – Eb – G – Bb | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion | Eb – G – Bb – C | 1-2-4-5 | 5-4-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion | G – Bb – C – Eb | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion | Bb – C – Eb – G | 1-2-4-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 4 shapes of Cm7.
Where Cm7 shows up
Cm7 is built on C minor, the relative minor of Eb major. The key of C minor has three flats. Cm7 works as the ii7 in Bb and the iii7 in Ab, the roles that put it at the front of jazz and soul progressions.
Jazz players know it as the start of Cm7–F7–Bbmaj7, the ii–V–I in Bb major.
Common questions
What notes are in the C minor 7th chord?
The C minor 7th chord is made up of C, Eb, G, Bb. Eb and Bb are black keys, which gives the shape its raised middle.
What fingers should I use to play Cm7 on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). Cm7 puts finger 2 on Eb, the first of its black keys.
What are the seventh chords in the key of C minor?
Building a seventh on each degree of the C natural minor scale gives Cm7, Dm7b5, Ebmaj7, Fm7, Gm7, Abmaj7, Bb7. Cm7 is the home chord of the set.
When should I play Cm7 instead of C minor?
Cm7 is the C minor triad with Bb added on top, so the two swap freely. The seventh takes the edge off the minor sound; use the plain triad when you want the sadness undiluted.
More C chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-19