C to G7 chord change
Your index finger, middle finger and ring finger move across to another string on the same fret. Your strumming hand changes too: C starts on the A string, G7 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.
Why this change matters
C to G7 sets up the return home in the key of C.
C to G7 is one of the easier changes. Going back from G7 to C, make the same moves in reverse.
Chord pages: C · G7
Finger by finger
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the B string to the high e 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.
- Moves across, same fretRing finger (3) moves across from the A string to the low E string, staying on the 3rd fret.
| Finger | On C | On G7 | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | B string, 1st fret | high e 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 | low E string, 3rd fret | Moves across, same fret |
How to practise C to G7
- Play C and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the ring finger. In G7 it plays the lowest note (the low E string, 3rd fret), which is the first string you strum, so aim it there first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from C to G7 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 G7. 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 G7 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 G7
These songs in our free song library change between C and G7. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
C to G7: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from C to G7?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your index finger, middle finger and ring finger move across to another string on the same fret.
How do I change from C to G7 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 G7 changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: C to G7 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 G7?
In our free song library, Wildwood Flower and When the Saints Go Marching In use it. C to G7 sets up the return home in the key of C.
Is G7 to C the same as C to G7?
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.