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C Guitar Chord

Learn the C shape, hear the voicing, and understand its notes and intervals.

MAJOR CHORD

How to play C on guitar

Read the diagram from the low E string on the left to the high E string on the right. Pick each intended string separately before strumming the complete shape.

Notes
C · E · G
Intervals
1 - 3 - 5
Level
Beginner
STRING BY STRING

C chord fingering

This voicing uses the fret pattern x 3 2 0 1 0. Keep fretting fingers close behind the fret wire and avoid touching adjacent open strings.

Low EMute
AFret 3
DFret 2
GOpen
BFret 1
High EOpen
BUILD THE CHORD

Notes and intervals in C

The C chord combines C, E, G. Its formula, 1 - 3 - 5, describes each note relative to the C root.

C1
E3
G5
KEEP PRACTICING

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C Guitar Chord Questions

What notes are in the C guitar chord?

The C chord contains C, E, G. Its interval formula is 1 - 3 - 5.

This C shape is categorized as beginner-friendly, although clean notes and smooth changes still require practice.

The same C chord can be played with different voicings, inversions, octaves, and string combinations while preserving its essential chord tones.