C major Chord
C major is the major triad built on C — the bright, stable sound of C major.
Notes in the C major chord
C major contains C — E — G. C major is the major triad built on C — the bright, stable sound of C major.
How to play C major
Open the chord finder above to see C major fingerings on piano, guitar, and ukulele simultaneously. Click any note on the diagram to play it on its own; use the strum button to roll the chord out from low to high.
C major in songs
C major appears in countless songs across rock, pop, jazz, and folk. Look it up in any tabbed song; if you see C major written above the lyrics, that's this chord.
FAQs
What's the difference between C major and Cm chords?
The third note changes. C major uses the major third interval; switching the third changes the entire emotional character.
What scale does C major come from?
C major sits naturally in C major and several related keys. Use the scale explorer to see which scales contain it.
Are there easier guitar voicings for C major?
Most chords have multiple voicings. The chord finder shows one common voicing; experienced guitarists often have several alternatives in different positions.