C major chord
C major chord for guitar in different forms, both open and barre chords.
Alternative shapes
C barre 1st
C barre 2nd
Relevant chords
C (no3)
C/D
Learn from video
Try in a chord progression
C - Em - Am - F - G - C
Progressions with diagrams (pdf)
Chords that sound good together with C major
The primary chords that sound good to combine with C in chord progressions are: Dm, Em, F, G, Am.
Follow-up chords
Chords that are likely to follow C major in progressions:
› G
› Am
› Em
› F
Comments
C (no3) is a C major without the third (E).
C/D is a C major with D as bass note.
Finger position (C chord)
Index (1st) finger on 2nd (thinnest) string, 1st fret.
Middle (2nd) finger on 4th (thinnest) string, 2nd fret.
Ring (3rd) finger on 5th (thinnest) string, 3rd fret.
Theory of the C chord
The notes that the C chord consists of are C, E, G.
To get C7 add Bb.
To get Cmaj7 add B.
To get C6 add A.
Inversions
1st inversion: C/E (means that E is the bass note).
2nd inversion: C/G (means that G is the bass note).
Diagrams of these inversions
Assorted slash chords
Versions with alternate bass notes in short notation:
C/D: XX0010
C/F: 132010
Alternative chord names
C/A is theoretically identical with Am7.
C/B is theoretically identical with the 3rd inversion of Cmaj7.
C/D is theoretically identical with Cadd9/D.
Alternative shapes and voicings
The chord can also be fingered as X32013, sometimes referred to as C with G at the top.
For pdf, see The Chord Reference ebook with over 800 chord charts.
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