C/D chord on guitar
C Major Over D. Notes: C, E and G.
How to play C/D
- Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C).
- Let the open D, G and high E strings ring.
- Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the D string down.
All 4 ways to play C/D
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyFret 3 position
EasyBarre at fret 5
HardBarre at fret 8
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/D
More C chords
All C guitar chordsC/D with another bass note
major chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the C/D chord?
C/D (C major over D) is made of three notes: C (root), E (major third) and G (perfect fifth). The slash means D is played as the lowest note.
How do you play C/D on guitar?
The easiest C/D is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C). Let the open D, G and high E strings ring. Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
Is C/D hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 1 fretted note plus open strings.
What is the difference between C/D 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/D in?
C/D 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.