C chord on guitar
The C chord, or C major, stacks 3 notes on C: C, E and G. Musicians write its formula 1 3 5.
Notes and intervals of C
Each note of C has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (C), major 3rd (E) and perfect 5th (G). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 3 5 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | C |
| 3 | major 3rd | E |
| 5 | perfect 5th | G |
How to play C on guitar
Start with the first diagram: x 3 2 0 1 0, read from the 6th string (low E) to the 1st string (high E). Your lowest note is C. The next positions give the same notes in a different order, which is useful when you want C to sit closer to the surrounding chords.
Let the open strings ring: strum slowly once and check that every note sounds clean before you speed up.
Which keys use C?
C appears naturally in 3 major keys: C major (I), F major (V) and G major (IV). In C major it is the I chord, so you will meet it in many songs written in that key and in its relative minor.
Scales to play over C
These scales share every note of C: C major scale, C major pentatonic scale, C Lydian mode and C Mixolydian mode. C major scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About major chords
The major chord is the brightest and most stable sound in tonal music: root, major third and perfect fifth (1 3 5). The major third, four semitones above the root, gives it its open, confident character. It is the basic triad every other chord is measured against, and a song that ends on it sounds like it has come home.
Every style uses it, from folk to metal. In a major key the major chords are I, IV and V, enough for thousands of songs: I IV V I, the I V vi IV pop loop, the 12-bar blues. In a minor key they sit on ♭III, ♭VI and ♭VII, and V is often made major for a stronger cadence.
Learn the open shapes first (C, A, G, E, D), then the two movable barre shapes: the E-shape with its root on the 6th string and the A-shape with its root on the 5th string. Between them you can play any major chord anywhere on the neck. In rock, a power chord (root and fifth only) often stands in for it.
The classic slip is a minor third played by accident: one fret or one key lower and the mood flips. On guitar, check that the third is not muted under a finger. And a power chord (for example C5) is not a major chord: with no third it is neither major nor minor.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C chord?
C (C major) contains C, E and G. In intervals: root (C), major 3rd (E) and perfect 5th (G).
How do you play C on guitar?
The easiest shape is x 3 2 0 1 0, from the low E string to the high E string. This page shows 3 positions with finger numbers.
What scale goes with C?
C major scale fits C best. Other scales that contain all its notes: C major pentatonic scale, C Lydian mode and C Mixolydian mode.
What key is C in?
C belongs to C major (I), F major (V) and G major (IV). In C major it is the I chord.
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