C/A chord on guitar
C Major Over A. Notes: C, E and G.
How to play C/A
- 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).
- Let the open A, G and high E strings ring.
- Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the A string down.
All 4 ways to play C/A
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyOpen position
EasyFret 3 position
EasyBarre at fret 5
HardNotes and theory
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/A
More C chords
All C guitar chordsC/A with another bass note
major chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the C/A chord?
C/A (C major over A) is made of three notes: C (root), E (major third) and G (perfect fifth). The slash means A is played as the lowest note.
How do you play C/A on guitar?
The easiest C/A 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). Let the open A, G and high E strings ring.
Is C/A hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 2 fretted notes plus open strings.
What is the difference between C/A 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/A in?
C/A 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.