What notes are in a C chord?

C is C, E, G: the 1, 3, 5 of C.

How do you play C on guitar?

Open C / C-Shape: x 3 2 0 1 0; Open A / A-Shape: x 3 5 5 5 3; Open G / G-Shape: 8 7 5 5 5 8 (low E to high E, x = don't play the string).

What scale goes with C?

Scales on C that contain every note of C: C Major, C Major Pentatonic, C Major Blues, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Phrygian Dominant.

Guitar chord · Major

C chord (C Major)

Bright, stable, and strong fundamental major triad.

Notes CEG

Formula 1 3 5

Shapes 5 on this page

C chord shapes

Tap a diagram to strum it. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. Blue dots are the root, C.

Open C / C-Shape x 3 2 0 1 0

Open A / A-Shape x 3 5 5 5 3

Open G / G-Shape 8 7 5 5 5 8

Open E / E-Shape 8 10 10 9 8 8

Open D / D-Shape x x 10 12 13 12

Interactive chord diagram

C on the fretboard

STR OP 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 E A D G B E ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕

Tap any note to hear it.

Scales to play over C

These scales start on C and contain every note of the chord, so they fit when C is the chord of the moment.

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Practise C and every other chord anywhere, even offline.

This page is a small slice of Fretwise. The app adds practice: exercises that play as tab, a new routine every day, and the tools to tune and keep time. On iPhone, iPad and Android, no sign-up.

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65 scales and 56 chord types in every key, with CAGED shapes
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A new Daily 15 routine every day, plus free exercises
Maqam & makam between the frets, and the Name the Note quiz

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282 exercises that play as tab, and routines with a speed trainer
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Questions

What notes are in a C chord?: C is C, E, G: the 1, 3, 5 of C.
How do you play C on guitar?: Open C / C-Shape: x 3 2 0 1 0; Open A / A-Shape: x 3 5 5 5 3; Open G / G-Shape: 8 7 5 5 5 8 (low E to high E, x = don't play the string).
What scale goes with C?: Scales on C that contain every note of C: C Major, C Major Pentatonic, C Major Blues, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Phrygian Dominant.

Major chords in every key

C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B