C major chord on guitar (C)

C is C, E and G. The easiest shape is x-3-2-0-1-0. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

How to play C on guitar

Shape 1, x-3-2-0-1-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

1. Index finger: B string, 1st fret (C).
2. Middle finger: D string, 2nd fret (E).
3. Ring finger: A string, 3rd fret (C).
4. Let the open G and high E strings ring (G and E).
5. Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string.

• If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.

Other ways to play C

• 8-10-10-9-8-8: barre shape at the 8th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any major chord.
• x-3-5-5-5-3: barre shape at the 3rd fret, medium. Root on the 5th string, so it pairs well with the 6th-string shape a few frets away.
• x-15-14-12-13-12: partial barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Playing C with a capo

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open A shape (x-0-2-2-2-0) or capo on the 5th fret and play the open G shape (3-2-0-0-0-3). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Moving between C and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold C for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

• F (IV in C major): C (x-3-2-0-1-0) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): your ring finger stays put, the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 3rd fret. Listen for C, which stays put while the rest moves. F on guitar
• G (V in C major): C (x-3-2-0-1-0) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the low E string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the high E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: G. G on guitar
• Am (vi in C major): C (x-3-2-0-1-0) to Am (x-0-2-2-1-0): your index and middle fingers stay put, your ring finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret. An easy one to get up to speed. The two chords share C and E, which is why the change sounds smooth. Am on guitar

A major chord sounds finished and open. Major chords are the backbone of most songs; C is home in C major and a common IV or V in the keys around it. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice C in two minutes

Arpeggiate x-3-2-0-1-0 from the lowest string: C, E, G, C, E. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Next, alternate x-3-2-0-1-0 and 8-10-10-9-8-8, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where C shows up

• I in C major
• IV in G major
• V in F major
• III in A minor
• V in F minor
• VI in E minor
• VII in D minor

In C major, I–V–vi–IV on guitar is C (x-3-2-0-1-0), G (3-2-0-0-0-3), Am (x-0-2-2-1-0) and F (1-3-3-2-1-1). About the pop progression.

In C major, I–IV–V on guitar is C (x-3-2-0-1-0), F (1-3-3-2-1-1) and G (3-2-0-0-0-3). About the three-chord progression.

In C major, I–vi–IV–V on guitar is C (x-3-2-0-1-0), Am (x-0-2-2-1-0), F (1-3-3-2-1-1) and G (3-2-0-0-0-3). About the 50s progression.

C on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: C on piano and C on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Next to try on guitar

• Cm
• C7
• Cmaj7
• Csus4
• Cadd9
• C6

Other major chords

• C♯
• D
• E♭
• E
• F
• F♯
• G
• A♭
• A
• B♭
• B

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside C. Updated September 2026. Print this chord