C Major Chord on Guitar
C C E G 3 shapes Open chord
Chord diagrams
How to play C Major on guitar
The C Major chord (C) is made of C, E, G - 1 3 5. On a guitar in standard tuning the easiest way to play it is the open shape x32010, with no barre. Below are 3 shapes in all, from the lowest on the neck to the highest; the same chord sounds brighter the higher you play it.
A-shape barre, fret 3 x35553
E-shape barre, fret 8 8(10)(10)988
Strings from the low E (left) to the high E (right). Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little. x = do not play the string, o = open string, a bar = one finger across several strings.
Notes
What notes are in C Major?
The C Major chord has 3 different notes: C, E, G. Root, major third (4 half steps up), perfect fifth (7). A guitar chord rarely has as many strings as notes, so shapes double some of them: the e-shape barre, fret 8 sounds all six strings.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 0 |
| E | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Chords that go with it
Chords in the key of C major
The seven chords built on the C major scale, with the easiest shape of each. I, IV and V are the three major chords that carry most songs in this key; vi is its relative minor.
A progression to strum
- I - V - vi - IVC - G - Am - F
Songs
Songs with the C chord
Easy songs on this site that use C, with the chords over the lyrics and a guitar that plays along.
- Amazing Grace
- When the Saints Go Marching In
- Oh! Susanna
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- Red River Valley
- Auld Lang Syne
- Silent Night
- Jingle Bells
- Happy Birthday
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
- Danny Boy
- Scarborough Fair
- Greensleeves
- Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
- Yankee Doodle
- Old MacDonald Had a Farm
- This Old Man
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Away in a Manger
- Up on the Housetop
Questions
Frequently asked
How do you play C on guitar?
The open shape x32010: A string fret 3 (finger 3), D string fret 2 (finger 2), B string fret 1 (finger 1); let G and high E ring open, do not play low E.
What notes are in the C Major chord?
The C Major chord (C) is made of C, E, G. Its formula is 1 3 5. On the guitar, some of those notes are played twice on different strings.
Is there a barre version of C?
Yes: a-shape barre, fret 3 (x35553), and e-shape barre, fret 8 (8(10)(10)988). Barre shapes have no open strings, so you can cut the sound short with your fretting hand.
Keep playing
Strum C, then build a song around it
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