C Guitar Chord
C Major · C–E–G
C is the C major chord: C–E–G. Its sound is bright and resolved — the foundational happy sound of pop, rock, country, and folk.
You'll meet C constantly because it lives in several common keys: it's the I chord in C major, the IV chord in G major, and the V chord in F major. That makes it a building block of I–IV–V and I–V–vi–IV progressions in those keys.
The easiest way to play C is the open-position shape (x 3 2 0 1 0, low E string to high E string), which uses open strings and stays in the first few frets. Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play C: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
C Chord Theory
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | E | G |
C is built from the C major scale.
C Chord FAQ
What notes are in the C chord?
C contains 3 notes: C (R), E (3), G (5). The interval formula for a major chord is R–3–5.
What is the easiest way to play C on guitar?
Use the open-position shape: x 3 2 0 1 0 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). It uses open strings, so it needs the least finger strength.
What is the difference between C and Cm?
One note: the 3rd. C major uses the major 3rd (E) while C minor flattens it to Eb. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright major sound and the darker minor sound.
What keys use the C chord?
C appears diatonically in C major (as I), G major (as IV), and F major (as V) — plus A minor, its relative minor key.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play C
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