Tools / Chords / C major

C chord on guitar (C major)

Also written C, Cmaj or CM

C major contains the notes C, E, and G. The open shape is one of the first chords most guitarists learn.

Open · E on top×-3-2-0-1-0

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

C1Root

E3Major 3rd

G5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 3, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionC–E–GCBass C

First inversionE–G–CC/EBass E

Second inversionG–C–EC/GBass G

Why it sounds like that

C major is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, with the major third E giving it its bright quality. Compare it to C minor, which lowers the third to E♭.

What goes wrong with C major?

Letting the low E string sound through and muddy the bass.
Touching the open G string with the middle finger and deadening it.

When to use it

C major is the tonic in C major, so it anchors progressions like C–F–G, the I–IV–V. It also appears in F major and G major keys. Use it for folk, pop, and classical.

Changing to and from C major

From C major to G major, keep the ring finger on the A string and move the other fingers to the G shape.
Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives D major.

Which voicing to use

The open position is the easiest and most common, with C in the bass. The 3rd fret barre shape gives the same voicing higher up. For a different bass, use the C/E inversion to put E in the bass.

How do you play a C major chord on guitar?

Open · E on top

Beginner● On the diagram

C major is played in open position as × 3 2 0 1 0: ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The G and high e strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.

Tip — The fingers must arch over the open G and high e strings to avoid muting them.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	3	3	C (1)
4 (D)	2	2	E (3)
3 (G)	open	—	G (5)
2 (B)	1	1	C (1)
1 (e)	open	—	E (3)

Open · G on top

Beginner

C major is played in open position as × 3 2 0 1 3: ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The G string rings open. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	3	3	C (1)
4 (D)	2	2	E (3)
3 (G)	open	—	G (5)
2 (B)	1	1	C (1)
1 (e)	3	4	G (5)

3rd fret

Barre

C major is played at the 3rd fret as × 3 5 5 5 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 5, ring finger on the G string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 5. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	3	1 (barre)	C (1)
4 (D)	5	2	G (5)
3 (G)	5	3	C (1)
2 (B)	5	4	E (3)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (5)

8th fret

Barre

C major is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 10 9 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, ring finger on the A string at fret 10, pinky finger on the D string at fret 10 and middle finger on the G string at fret 9.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	8	1 (barre)	C (1)
5 (A)	10	3	G (5)
4 (D)	10	4	C (1)
3 (G)	9	2	E (3)
2 (B)	8	1 (barre)	G (5)
1 (e)	8	1 (barre)	C (1)

C/E inversion

Beginner

C major is played in open position as 0 3 2 0 1 0: ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The low E, G and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	open	—	E (3)
5 (A)	3	3	C (1)
4 (D)	2	2	E (3)
3 (G)	open	—	G (5)
2 (B)	1	1	C (1)
1 (e)	open	—	E (3)

Common questions

How is C major written?

C major is written as C, Cmaj, or CM. There is no alternate root spelling for C major.

What is the difference between C major and C minor?

C major has a major third (E), while C minor has a minor third (E♭). This changes the chord from bright to somber.

Why is the low E string muted in the open C major shape?

The low E is a chord tone, but it is muted to preserve the C bass note and keep the voicing clear.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

G (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (1)

4 (D)

G (5)

3 (G)

C (1)

2 (B)

E (3)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

C (1)

5 (A)

G (5)

4 (D)

C (1)

3 (G)

E (3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

G (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

C (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (3)

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (3)