The C Dominant 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of C, E, G, and B♭. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 |
| E | Major 3rd | 3 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| B♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
C Dominant 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | C – E – G – B♭ |
| 1st Inversion | E – G – B♭ – C |
| 2nd Inversion | G – B♭ – C – E |
| 3rd Inversion | B♭ – C – E – G |
Key Signature
A dominant chord points home to the key a fifth below its root: the C Dominant 7th is the V (dominant) of F Major, so the relevant key signature is that key’s — 1 flat (B♭). Spelled as a scale, these notes are C Mixolydian.
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of F Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the F major scale:
How C Dominant 7th functions in a key
The same chord takes on a different harmonic role depending on the key it appears in. Here is where C Dominant 7th sits diatonically across the common keys:
- In F major, C Dominant 7th is the V chord — the dominant.
- In D minor, C Dominant 7th is the ♭VII chord — a mediant / color chord.