C major chord on ukulele (C)

C is C, E and G. The easiest shape is 0-0-0-3. Tap Play, then slow it down.

0-0-0-3 · open · easy

Notes: C · E · G
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5
First shape: 0-0-0-3

How to play C on ukulele

Shape 1, 0-0-0-3, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: A string, 3rd fret (C).
Let the open G, C and E strings ring (G, C and E).

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play C

9-7-8-7: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.
12-12-12-10: movable shape at the 10th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Capo shortcuts for C

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open B♭ shape (3-2-1-1), capo on the 3rd fret and play the open A shape (2-1-0-0), capo on the 5th fret and play the open G shape (0-2-3-2) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open F shape (2-0-1-0). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

C chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with C, using the first shape of each chord.

F (IV in C major): C (0-0-0-3) to F (2-0-1-0): your index finger lands on the E string, 1st fret, the middle finger comes down on the G string, 2nd fret. The two chords share C, which is why the change sounds smooth. F on ukulele
G (V in C major): C (0-0-0-3) to G (0-2-3-2): move the index finger to the C string, 2nd fret, the middle finger comes down on the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the E string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for G, which stays put while the rest moves. G on ukulele
Am (vi in C major): C (0-0-0-3) to Am (2-0-0-0): move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret. C and E carry over from one chord to the other. Am on ukulele

A major chord sounds finished and open. All 3 notes of C fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

A short C drill

Before strumming, play 0-0-0-3 note by note: G then C then E then C. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Finish by moving between 0-0-0-3 and 9-7-8-7 to learn two positions of the same chord.

C in context

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

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

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

C on guitar and piano

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

Close to C

Other major chords

C on ukulele: questions

What notes are in C on ukulele?

C, E and G. In the 0-0-0-3 shape the strings play G (G string, open), C (C string, open), E (E string, open) and C (A string), so C is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play C on ukulele?

0-0-0-3, the first shape on this page. No barre: some strings ring open.

Is C a barre chord on ukulele?

Not usually: 0-0-0-3 needs no barre.

Which string does C start on?

In the 0-0-0-3 shape the lowest string you play is the G string, open, which is G, the perfect fifth.

Every shape above plays only C, E and G, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.