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Bright

C Major

C · E · G

Watch on YouTube
Cooo3

Shape 1 · difficulty 1/10

C3fr32

Shape 2 · difficulty 8/10

Co312

Shape 3 · difficulty 4/10

CC#DEbEFF#GG#ABbB
MajorMinorDominant 7thMinor 7thMajor 7thDiminishedAugmentedSuspended 2ndSuspended 4th
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About the C chord

C is a C major chord built from C, E, G. Bright and stable: the foundation of most songs. Open, happy, and resolved.

Root

C

Quality

Major

Chord tones

C E G

Shapes

3 · beginner

Notes & intervals

Every major chord stacks the same intervals on its root. In C, that gives you:

C

root1

Home base. The root names the chord, and every other note is measured from it.

E

major third3

The major third is the smile in the chord: this note makes it sound happy.

G

perfect fifth5

The fifth adds weight and strength behind the root.

C sits in the keys of C major, F major, G major.

Used in genres

Major chords show up all over the progression catalog, most of all in these styles:

PopIslandRockClassicsFolk & CountryBluesJazzLatin

Character & mood

BrightBright and stable: the foundation of most songs. Open, happy, and resolved.

Find another chord

Popular chords

ACGDFAmEmDm

Frequently asked questions

How do you play C on ukulele?

C is one of the first chords most players learn. The first shape is the easiest voicing: one fretted string and 3 open strings. Put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string. Leave the G, C, and E strings open. Strum all four strings and check each one rings cleanly. Watch on YouTube

What notes are in a C chord?

C is C, E, G. That is a major triad (root, major third, perfect fifth). Play them in any order and you still get C. C sits in the keys of C major, F major, G major.

What makes C a major chord?

A major chord stacks root, major third, and perfect fifth (1–3–5). In C that is the notes above. Bright and stable: the foundation of most songs. Open, happy, and resolved. Flatten the third and the same family becomes minor.

What songs use the C chord?

Songs that use C include I'm Yours, Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, Umbrella, Learning to Fly, and more.

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