HandyChords

C chord on guitar

C Major. Notes: C, E and G.

C guitar chord diagram, open position×3CR2E31CRCEGCE
Open position · Easy

How to play C

  1. Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).
  4. Let the open G and high E strings ring.
  5. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: C (the root)Strings played: 5 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play C

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
C guitar chord, open position×3CR2E31CRCEGCE

Open position

Easy
C guitar chord, barre at fret 55fr××1G51CR1E34CRGCEC

Barre at fret 5

Hard
C guitar chord, barre at fret 33fr×1CR2G53CR4E31G5CGCEG

Barre at fret 3

Hard
C guitar chord, barre at fret 88fr1CR3G54CR2E31G51CRCGCEGC

Barre at fret 8

Hard

Notes and theory

Croot
E3 · major third
G5 · perfect fifth

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on. The formula is 1 3 5, and you will also see it written as Cmaj and CM.

Keys that use C

C major IF major VG major IVD minor VIIE minor VIA minor III
C on ukuleleC on piano

More C chords

All C guitar chords
Cm guitar chord diagram×3CR2Ebb31CR4G5CEbGCGCmminorC7 guitar chord diagram×3CR2E34Bbb71CRCEBbCEC7dominant seventhCm7 guitar chord diagram4fr××2G53CR1Ebb34Bbb7GCEbBbCm7minor seventhCmaj7 guitar chord diagram2G53CR1E3GCEGBECmaj7major seventhCsus4 guitar chord diagram×2CR3F41CR4G5CFGCGCsus4suspended fourthCsus2 guitar chord diagram×3CR1CR4G5CDGCGCsus2suspended secondCdim guitar chord diagram3fr××1CR2Gbb54CR3Ebb3CGbCEbCdimdiminishedCaug guitar chord diagram××3CR2E31G##51CRCEG#CCaugaugmentedC6 guitar chord diagram×4CR2E33A61CRCEACEC6major sixthC9 guitar chord diagram2CR3E34D9ECEGDEC9dominant ninthCadd9 guitar chord diagram×2CR1E33D9CEGDECadd9added ninthCm7b5 guitar chord diagram××1CR3Gbb52Bbb74Ebb3CGbBbEbCm7b5half-diminishedCdim7 guitar chord diagram××1Ebb33Abb72CR4Gbb5EbACGbCdim7diminished seventhC7sus4 guitar chord diagram5fr××1G51CR2F43Bbb7GCFBbC7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthC5 guitar chord diagram3fr××××1CR3G5CGC5power chordCm6 guitar chord diagram3fr××1CR3G52Ebb34A6CGEbACm6minor sixthCm9 guitar chord diagram×1CR2Bbb74Ebb33G5CDBbEbGCm9minor ninthCmaj9 guitar chord diagram×3CRCDGBECmaj9major ninth

C with another bass note

C/AC/AbC/BC/BbC/C#C/DC/EC/EbC/FC/F#C/G

major chords in every key

CC#DD#EFF#GG#AA#B

Questions

What notes are in the C chord?

C (C major) is made of three notes: C (root), E (major third) and G (perfect fifth).

How do you play C on guitar?

The easiest C is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C). Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Put your ring finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).

Is C hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.

What is the difference between C and Cm?

Only the third changes. C major uses a major third and sounds bright; C minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.

What key is C in?

C belongs to 6 keys: C major (as the I chord), F major (as the V chord), G major (as the IV chord), D minor (as the VII chord), E minor (as the VI chord) and A minor (as the III chord).

What does a major chord sound like?

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.