Root position C
C – E – G
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
C Major Chord on Piano
C C E G Formula 1 3 5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the C Major chord?
The C Major chord has 3 notes: C, E, G. Start on C, go up 4 half steps for the major third, then 3 more for the perfect fifth.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 0 |
| E | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play C Major
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion C/E
E – G – C
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion C/G
G – C – E
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
In real music
Songs that use C Major
Pieces from the GOONS sheet music library where C holds for at least two bars of our arrangement (read from the score, root in the bass). These are the 6 where it lasts longest, out of 37.
Where it lives
Keys and scales with C Major
Every key where C is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
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 - the root, then the intervals of a major chord.
How do you play C on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of C?
root position C (C E G); 1st inversion C/E (E G C); 2nd inversion C/G (G C E).
Play it for real
Hold C and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.