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Guitar chords · Major

C chord on guitar

C (C major) has three notes: C, E and G, the , 3 and 5.

Shapes

How to play C

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

C has an , and two : the A shape at 3 and the E shape at fret 8. A movable shape keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • Open

    ×R3RCEGCE

  • A shape · fret 3

    3fr×R5R35CGCEG

  • E shape · fret 8

    8frR5R35RCGCEGC
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes C major

A major chord stacks a major 3rd and a perfect 5th on the . It is the bright, settled sound most songs start and end on.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The 3rd makes C a major chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. CRroot
  2. E3essential
  3. G5optional
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCEGEGEGEGEGEGEGEGEG
  • C, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with C

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

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with C

Common progressions that use C, each in a key that spells it C. The outlined chord is C.

  • The pop axis in C major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. C
    2. G
    3. Am
    4. F

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

  • Three-chord rock in C major

    I – IV – V – IV

    1. C
    2. F
    3. G
    4. F

    Tonic, subdominant, dominant: the key and its two neighbours on the outer ring.

    Heard in La Bamba, Twist and Shout, Wild Thing

  • '50s doo-wop in C major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. C
    2. Am
    3. F
    4. G

    The vi chord softens the move from I to IV before the V pulls back home.

    Heard in Stand by Me, Every Breath You Take

  • Minor pop in A minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. Am
    2. F
    3. C
    4. G

    The pop axis rotated to start on the relative minor — same four chords, darker centre.

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in E minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. Em
    2. D
    3. C
    4. B

    A stepwise walk down to a major V borrowed from harmonic minor. Flamenco's signature move.

    Heard in Hit the Road Jack, Runaway, Stray Cat Strut

Slash chords

C over another bass note

A keeps C on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • C/E

    C with its 3rd, E, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • C/G

    C with its 5th, G, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • C/B

    C over B, a passing bass a below the , as in C, C/B, Am.

  • C/B♭

    C over B♭, a passing bass a below the , as in C, C/B♭, F.

Same root

Other chords on C

Change one or two notes and the same gives a different colour. Compare them by ear.

Questions

C, in short

What notes are in the C chord?
C (C major) has three notes: C, E and G, the , 3 and 5.
How do you play C on guitar?
C has an , and two : the A shape at 3 and the E shape at fret 8.
What key is C in?
C belongs to seven keys: C major (I), G major (IV), F major (V), A minor (III), E minor (VI), F minor (V, ) and D minor (VII).
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