C chord (C major) on guitar
How to finger C, which notes it contains and which chords it is played with. Tap the diagram to hear it, then play it below in a progression with other chords.
About the C chord
C is C major. Notes: C – G – E. Formula: 1 – 3 – 5.
Difficulty: easy (1 out of 3). Few fingers and a comfortable position: fine from the first weeks. This is one of the most common chords: it appears in a huge number of songs and is among the first ones people learn.
How to place your fingers
- String 6 (E): do not play
- String 5 (A): fret 3
- String 4 (D): do not play
- String 3 (G): open
- String 2 (B): fret 1
- String 1 (e): open
Where it appears
C is found in these keys: C (I), G (IV), F (V).
Progressions with C
Every progression starts on C and all its chords come from one key, so the changes sound natural. Play them in the block above; the Roman numerals show each chord's degree.
Try it in practice
Practise chord changes