Chord · C Major
C Chord
C is C, E and G — bright, stable. The reference triad.
C on every instrument
The same 3 notes, 6 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.
What C is made of
C (C major) is built from the notes C, E, G, with the interval pattern 1, 3, 5.
Stack 1, 3 and 5 on a root of C and you get C, E and G. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a major chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why D sounds like a transposed C.
Major: Bright, stable. The reference triad.
Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. Every tone here lands on its own letter — no accidentals needed.
Keys that contain C
All 3 notes sit inside the scale of 6 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.
Other chords on C
Same root, different colour.
The same major shape, moved
The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.
Questions people ask about C
- What notes are in the C chord?
- C is made of C, E and G — the 1, 3 and 5 degrees of a major chord built on C.
- What keys use the C chord?
- Every note of C belongs to 6 keys: C Major (I), F Major (V), G Major (IV), A Minor (III), D Minor (VII), E Minor (VI). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
- How do you play C on guitar and piano?
- This page shows C on guitar, piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo — 26 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Learn the theory behind it
Why C behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.