Need to learn how to play the C major chord on guitar? Check out the chord chart and photo below to see how to play the C chord with ease!
How to play the C Major guitar chord: Chart, Photo, and Description
To play the C Major chord, place your left hand fingers on the following strings and frets:
- Index (Finger 1): Fret 1, String 2 (C)
- Middle (Finger 2): Fret 2, String 4 (E)
- Ring (Finger 3): Fret 3, String 5 (C)
- You can play the following open strings:
- String 3 (open G)
- String 1 (open high E)
- Avoid playing the String 6 (low E), which has an “X” in the box diagram above. Although this note is technically part of the C major chord and won’t sound terrible, more often you’ll want to play string 5 (C) as the lowest note. This is the root of the chord!
When you’re first learning this chord, you might find the stretch across the three frets difficult. I recommend you practice the C major chord stretch by transitioning to and from the Am chord. That way, you’ll only need to move your ring finger (finger 3)!
If you hear a buzzing sound when you play the C chord, it’s most likely an issue with string 5. To reduce the buzz, try placing your left hand ring finger (finger 3) closer to the end of the third fret.
In the beginning, finger 3 can sometimes mute string 4. If this is happening to you, try lowering the left hand thumb slightly to give the other fingers more leverage. Play each string individually with the right hand to ensure that each string is ringing clearly.
What are the notes in a C Major chord?
The notes of the C chord are:
- C (Root)
- E (Third)
- G (Fifth)
