C to E7 chord change
Your index finger and middle finger move across to another string on the same fret; your ring finger comes off. Your strumming hand changes too: C starts on the A string, E7 uses all six strings.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger. o means play the string open, ✕ means don’t play it.
Finger by finger
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the B string to the G string, staying on the 1st fret.
- Moves across, same fretMiddle finger (2) moves across from the D string to the A string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts offRing finger (3) lifts off (it was on the A string, 3rd fret).
| Finger | On C | On E7 | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | B string, 1st fret | G string, 1st fret | Moves across, same fret |
| Middle finger (2) | D string, 2nd fret | A string, 2nd fret | Moves across, same fret |
| Ring finger (3) | A string, 3rd fret | not used | Lifts off |
How to practise C to E7
- Play C and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the index finger: it has the furthest to go (to the G string, 1st fret). Aim it first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from C to E7 and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on C, four on E7. When that is clean, try two strums each, then one.
- Time yourself with the trainer below: one minute, counting every clean change. Do it once a day and watch the number climb.
One-minute C to E7 trainer
Press Start, hold C through the count-in, then change back and forth for one minute. Tap the big button (or press the space bar) every time you land a clean chord. Your best score is kept.
Want other chords? Open the full chord change trainer.
Songs that use C to E7
These songs in our free song library change between C and E7. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
C to E7: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from C to E7?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your index finger and middle finger move across to another string on the same fret; your ring finger comes off.
How do I change from C to E7 faster?
Practise the change on its own, not inside a song. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, land them all at once, and lead with the finger that has the longest trip. Then do one minute of changes a day with a timer and count them.
How many C to E7 changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: C to E7 is one, and back again is two. Around 30 in a minute is a solid start and enough for slow songs. At 40 most songs at a relaxed tempo start to flow, and at about 60 (one change a second) the change is ready for almost anything.
What songs use C and E7?
In our free song library, Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, Frankie and Johnny, Greensleeves and Sitting on Top of the World, and 2 more use it. E7 is the chord that leads to Am. C to E7 sets up the return to A minor in songs that move between C and Am.
Is E7 to C the same as C to E7?
It uses the same moves in reverse. Practise both directions: the trainer counts each switch either way.
More chord changes
Learn the chords in the right order
Fretwork’s lessons teach one chord at a time, with a ring test and a one-minute change check before you move on. The first two stages are free.