Chord · C Major (2nd Inversion)
C/5 Chord
C/5 is G, C and E — major triad with the fifth in the bass.
C/5 on every instrument
The same 3 notes, 1 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.
What C/5 is made of
C Major (2nd Inversion) (C major (2nd inversion)) is built from the notes G, C, E, with the interval pattern 5, 1, 3. A common major (2nd inversion) chord across many styles.
Stack 5, 1 and 3 on a root of C and you get G, C and E. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a major second inversion chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why D/5 sounds like a transposed C/5.
Major (2nd Inversion): Major triad with the fifth in the bass.
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/5
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 second inversion shape, moved
The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.
Questions people ask about C/5
- What notes are in the C/5 chord?
- C/5 is made of G, C and E — the 5, 1 and 3 degrees of a major second inversion chord built on C.
- What keys use the C/5 chord?
- Every note of C/5 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/5 on guitar and piano?
- This page shows C/5 on piano — 1 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/5 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.