Chords
Major chord
A major chord is a triad made of a root, a major third (4 semitones up) and a perfect fifth (7 semitones up), such as C E G for C major.
What is a major chord?
The major chord is the core triad of Western music. Its formula is 1 3 5: the root, a major third (4 semitones above) and a perfect fifth (7 semitones above). Between the third and the fifth there is a minor third (3 semitones).
Some spellings: C = C E G, G = G B D, D = D F♯ A, A = A C♯ E, E = E G♯ B, F = F A C. The chord symbol is just the letter: "C" on a chord sheet means C major.
How do you play major chords on guitar?
The five major open chords, written from low E to high E (x = don't play the string):
| Chord | Shape | Notes sounding |
|---|---|---|
| C | x32010 | C E G C E |
| A | x02220 | A E A C♯ E |
| G | 320003 | G B D G D G |
| E | 022100 | E B E G♯ B E |
| D | xx0232 | D A D F♯ |
For every other key, use barre shapes. E shape, root on the 6th string: F = 133211, G = 355433. A shape, root on the 5th string: B♭ = x13331, C = x35553. These two movable shapes give you all twelve major chords.
Where do major chords appear in a key?
In the major scale, three degrees carry a major chord: I, IV and V. In C that is C, F and G. In G: G, C and D. In D: D, G and A.
That is why so many songs work with three chords. The I-V-vi-IV progression in G (G, D, Em, C) uses all three major chords of the key plus one minor chord.
Exercise: hear the major third
The only difference between a major chord and a minor chord is the third, one fret apart. Switch back and forth:
- E
022100to Em022000: lift the finger off the 3rd string, 1st fret (G♯ becomes G). - A
x02220to Amx02210: on the 2nd string, C♯ (2nd fret) becomes C (1st fret). - D
xx0232to Dmxx0231: on the 1st string, F♯ (2nd fret) becomes F (1st fret).
Play each pair four times, slowly, listening only to the note that moves. If you're not sure what a shape is, enter its notes in the chord identifier: it names the chord and its inversions.
Common mistakes with major chords
- Muting the third: in
x32010, if the finger on the 5th string leans on the 4th, you lose the E and the chord no longer sounds clearly major. - Confusing a major chord with a major key: in A minor, C, F and G are major chords even though the key is minor.
- Strumming all six strings: on C and D the bass note should be the root, not the low E string.
Key takeaways
- Formula: 1 3 5, a major third with a minor third on top.
- Five open shapes (C, A, G, E, D) plus two barre shapes cover the whole neck.
- In a major key, chords I, IV and V are major.
- Major and minor differ by a single semitone on the third.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a major chord sound happy?
The major third and the perfect fifth both appear in the natural overtones of the root, so the ear hears the chord as very stable. The "happy" feeling mostly comes from the contrast with the minor chord, whose third is a semitone lower.
How many major chords are there?
Twelve, one on each note of the chromatic scale (C, C♯/D♭, D and so on). On guitar, two movable barre shapes are enough to play them all: the E shape and the A shape.
What does a chord written as just "C" mean?
A letter on its own always means a major chord: C = C major (C E G). An "m" means minor (Cm), a "7" adds a minor seventh (C7), and "maj7" adds a major seventh (Cmaj7).
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
Take it from theory to the fretboard
Open the workshop tools and see this idea across the whole neck. Free account, no card needed.