Cm7 Chord
Cm7 combines a minor triad with B flat, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: C-E flat-G-B flat
- Symbol: Cm7
- ii7 in Bb major
- Minor third and flat seventh
Cm7
How to play a Cm7 chord
Notes: C - Eb - G - BbCm7
Root position
C - Eb - G - Bb1st inversion
Eb - G - Bb - C2nd inversion
G - Bb - C - Eb3rd inversion
Bb - C - Eb - G
Where does Cm7 belong?
In Bb major, Cm7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- The ii in ii-V-Iii7
The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to Bb.
Cm7ii7F7Bbmaj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as Eb major with a darker center.
Ebmaj7Cm7vi7Fm7Bb7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives C Dorian its brighter minor sound.
Cm7i7F7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Abmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.
Abmaj7Cm7iii7Dbmaj7
Progressions to try
- Cm7F7Bbmaj7
Cm7 begins a ii-V-I in Bb major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Ebmaj7Cm7Fm7Bb7
Here Cm7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- Cm7F7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Cm7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Abmaj7Cm7Dbmaj7
In Ab major, Cm7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with x35343, a barre at the 3rd fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The 8-10-8-8-8-8 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, start with 3333, played at the 3rd fret. The 8-10-8-10 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play C-E flat-G-B flat. Move C up an octave to reach the first inversion, E flat-G-B flat-C; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
C is the root, E flat the minor third, G the fifth and B flat the flat seventh.
- Root position: C-E flat-G-B flat, with C lowest.
- First inversion: E flat-G-B flat-C, written Cm7/Eb if E flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: G-B flat-C-E flat, written Cm7/G if G is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: B flat-C-E flat-G, written Cm7/Bb if B flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Cm7 differ from C7?
Keep C, G and B flat, then raise the third from E flat to E. That turns Cm7 into C7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See C7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Cm7
C - Eb - G - BbC7
C - E - G - Bb