Also written C, Cmaj or CM
C major is built from C, E, and G. The open position uses only one fretted note, so beginners can strum it cleanly on the first day.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
C major follows the 1, 3, 5 formula from the C major scale. The major third between C and E defines its bright, stable sound. Flatten that third to E♭ and you get C minor.
C major is the tonic in C major, as in C–F–G, the I–IV–V–I progression. It also appears in F major and G major keys. Use it for simple folk, pop, and singalongs.
The open shape has C in the bass, giving a solid root position. The Cmaj/G inversion at the 9th fret puts G in the bass for a warmer, less grounded sound.
C major is played in open position as 0 0 0 3: index finger on the A string at fret 3. The G, C and E strings ring open.
Tip — The index finger must reach the 3rd fret without touching the open E string beside it.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | open | — | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (1) |
C major is played at the 3rd fret as 5 4 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 5 and middle finger on the C string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 3 | C (1) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 2 | E (3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
C major is played at the 7th fret as 9 7 8 7: pinky finger on the G string at fret 9, index finger on the C string at fret 7, ring finger on the E string at fret 8 and middle finger on the A string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (3) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 1 | G (5) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 3 | C (1) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (3) |
C major is played at the 10th fret as 12 12 12 10: middle finger on the G string at fret 12, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, pinky finger on the E string at fret 12 and index finger on the A string at fret 10.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | 12 | 4 | E (3) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 1 | G (5) |
C major is played in open position as 0 4 3 3: ring finger on the C string at fret 4, index finger on the E string at fret 3 and middle finger on the A string at fret 3. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 3 | E (3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (1) |
C major is written C, Cmaj, or CM.
C major has E, a major third above C. C minor lowers that to E♭, a minor third, which makes the chord sadder.
Its open shape requires only one finger, and it appears in many easy keys like C, F, and G major.