Accessible Page: C Guitar Chord

This page provides an accessible, text-only version of the C maj guitar chord, designed for use with screen-reader software.

• For additional chords, visit our complete list of chord diagrams in textual form.
• If you'd prefer the visual version with graphic diagrams and color highlights, please visit the C maj chord diagrams page.

Chord Shapes

There are 18 positions for this chord:

Position 1

Fingers Positions

• Let the low E string play without pressing any fret
• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 2 of the D string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the A string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 2

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the high E string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the A string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D, G and B strings at the same time

Position Characteristics

• This position requires barre
• This position is movable

Position 3

Fingers Positions

• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the low E, B and high E strings at the same time
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the G string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 10 of the A string
• Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 10 of the D string

Position Characteristics

• This position requires barre
• This position is movable

Position 4

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 2 of the D string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the A string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 5

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the A string
• Mute the D string
• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 6

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the A and high E strings at the same time
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D, G and B strings at the same time

Position Characteristics

• This position requires barre
• This position is movable

Position 7

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the A string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 5 of the D string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the G string
• Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the B string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 8

Fingers Positions

• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 2 of the D string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the low E string
• Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 3 of the A string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 9

Fingers Positions

• Mute the A string
• Mute the D string
• Mute the B string
• Mute the high E string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the low E string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 9 of the G string

Position Characteristics

• This position is movable

Position 10

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Mute the high E string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 2 of the D string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the A string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 11

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the A string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 5 of the D, G and B strings at the same time
• Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 8 of the high E string

Position Characteristics

• This position requires barre
• This position is movable

Position 12

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the A string
• Mute the D string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the high E string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the G string
• Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the B string

Position Characteristics

• This position is movable

Position 13

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the A string
• Mute the high E string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 5 of the D, G and B strings at the same time

Position Characteristics

• This position requires barre
• This position is movable

Position 14

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the G string
• Mute the B string
• Mute the high E string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the D string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the A string

Position Characteristics

• This position is movable

Position 15

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the A string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the B and high E strings at the same time
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the G string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 10 of the D string

Position Characteristics

• This position requires barre
• This position is movable

Position 16

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 2 of the D string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the A string
• Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 3 of the high E string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 17

Fingers Positions

• Mute the low E string
• Mute the D string
• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Mute the high E string
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the A string
• Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the B string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

Position 18

Fingers Positions

• Mute the A string
• Let the G string play without pressing any fret
• Let the high E string play without pressing any fret
• Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string
• Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 2 of the D string
• Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the low E string

Position Characteristics

• This position uses open strings

C maj Description

Welcome to our tutorial on the C Major chord - a fundamental chord that belongs to the Major Chords family. The C Major chord, like all major chords, is composed of three notes: the root, the major third, and the perfect fifth. In this case, those notes are C, E, and G.

Understanding the structure of the C Major chord requires a basic knowledge of music intervals. In the C Major chord, the intervals are the 1st (root), 3rd (major third), and 5th (perfect fifth). If you are unfamiliar with these terms, we recommend checking out our tutorial about fretboard intervals and our tutorial on how to denote chords depending on the intervals that compose it.

In this tutorial, we will be providing chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to help you visualize and understand the structure of the C Major chord. We will also be discussing how these tones interact to create the distinctive sound of the C Major chord. If you're interested in how chords are built, you may find our tutorial that teaches how to build chords by stacking intervals helpful.

By the end of this tutorial, you will not only know how to play the C Major chord, but you will also understand its structure and why it sounds the way it does. Whether you're a beginner just starting out or an intermediate player looking to deepen your understanding, this tutorial has something for you. Happy playing!

Back to the complete list of chord diagrams in textual form.

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