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CHORD

C Major

C · E · G

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CC#DEbEFF#GG#ABbB
MajorMinorDominant 7th
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About the C chord

C major is one of the easiest ukulele chords to start with. Use the first shape above, place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, leave the other three strings open, and strum all four strings.

Root

C

Quality

Major

Notes

C · E · G

How the C chord works

C

Root(1)

The home note. It gives the chord its name.

E

Major third(3)

This note is what makes the chord major.

G

Perfect fifth(5)

Adds strength and stability.

Play in another way

The same chord can be played in different places on the fretboard. These are called voicings. They use the same notes, but the fingering and sound can feel a little different.

3fr32
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This chord goes well with

C is the home chord in the key of C major. These chords naturally belong together and are a good place to start when you want to play around C.

CDmEmFGAmBdim
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Practice with this chord

The best way to learn a chord is to use it. Try C in these common progressions:

Major 4Major 4 RotationPop Rotation LiftSensitiveAxis Rotation

Find another chord

Popular chords

ACGDFAmEmDm

Frequently asked questions

How do you play C on ukulele?

Use the first shape shown above. Put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, leave the G, C, and E strings open, and strum all four strings. Make sure every note rings clearly.

What notes are in C?

C major contains three notes: C, E, and G — the root, major third, and perfect fifth.

What makes C a major chord?

The E is what makes this chord major. It forms a major third above C. Together, C, E, and G make a major triad.

What songs use C?

Songs that use C include Riptide, I'm Yours, Zombie, Let It Be, and No Woman No Cry.

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