C DOMINANT SEVENTH - GUITAR

Chord composition

I	III	V	♭VII
Root	Major third	Perfect fifth	Minor seventh
C	E	G	A#

The C Dominant Seventh chord is composed of 4 notes :

These notes form a dominant seventh chord, adding tension and harmonic movement.

The C Dominant Seventh dominant seventh chord is fundamental in blues, jazz and rock. It adds tension that calls for resolution.

Open position: rich positions with open strings, ideal for blues
Barre position: movable across the entire neck for all keys
Partial voicings: by omitting the fifth, you get a more compact and modern sound

The minor seventh creates a characteristic dissonance that defines the sound of blues and jazz. Mastering this chord is essential for these styles.

For 7th chords on guitar:

Bends and slides: use these techniques to add expressiveness, typical of blues
Rootless voicings: in jazz, omit the root for a more sophisticated sound
Tritone substitution: replace with another 7th chord at tritone distance

The C Dominant Seventh chord plays a key role in functional harmony:

Dominant function: creates tension that naturally calls for resolution to the tonic. This is the basic principle of tonal harmony.
12-bar blues: characteristic 7-7-7 structure where all chords are sevenths. This sonority defines traditional blues.
Jazz and ii-V-I progressions: enriches cadences with sophisticated harmonic colors. The ii-V-I is the DNA of jazz.
Rock and rock'n'roll: 7th riffs define the sound of the 50s-60s

Blues: absolutely fundamental - 12-bar blues relies entirely on dominant seventh chords.

Jazz: sevenths are enriched with extensions (#9, b9, #11, b13) to create complex colors.

Rock'n'roll: the 50s heavily relied on sevenths for that retro, danceable sound.

Funk and Soul: used in syncopated grooves, creating a rich and rhythmic harmonic foundation.

This chord appears in many well-known pieces :