Learn To Play C Chord on Guitar

How To Play C Chord on Guitar

C Chord on guitar

C Chord is a basic chord to be learn at the beginning guitar learning. This is the most important chord of the c family.
In this article, you’ll learn all about the this chord. So let’s start with what is a Chord ? A chord is a combination of three or more musical notes played at a time known as a chord, except a power chord.


What is a C chord?

C Chord is a combination of 3 musical notes C, E & G. This is also known as C major Chord.
To understand this chord we must know this Scale

.Keys in C Scale or C Major Scale

12345678
CDEFGABC

In the above table, we can see all the notes in this scale. So to form a C major chord we have to pick 1st note C, 3rd note E, and 5th note G.

Chord Diagram

Open3rd fret PositionC 5 Chord 5th position8th fret positionOn 10th fret positionC Major Chord

How to play C Chord on Guitar?

There are so many different position to play this chord. Each and every shape has some particular technique to play this chord. So you can see all the chords below.

1st Position or Open Position

C Chord Open
Open position

This is the most easiest shape for this chord.Because of its open position, it is easy to play . So,to play this chord put your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th strings, 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th strings, then place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd strings. In this shape 1st and the 3rd strings remain open.



C Chord on 3rd fret Position

C Chord on 3rd fret
3rd fret Position

In this shape Root note C which is on the 5th fret of 3rd string and 3rd fret of 5th string. To play this shape place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret from 5th string to the 1st string like a bar, 2nd finger on the 5th fret of 4th string, 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of 3rd string and 4th finger also on the 5th fret of the 2nd string. You can also use your 3rd finger, like a bar, to hold all three notes on the 5th fret.

8th fret position

C 5 Chord 5th position
5th position

This is just like as open G shape chord.
With the 1st finger hold three strings 2nd, 3rd and 4th simultaneously ,on the the 5th fret.
Place 2nd finger on the 7th fret of 5th strings, 3rd finger on the 8th fret of 6th strings, and 4th finger on the 8th fret of 1st strings.
At the beginning You can face difficulty, to hold this chord, but when you spend time on it becomes easy for you.

8th fret Bar Shape Postion

C chord Bar shape
Bar shape on 8th fret


This is a bar chord. On the 8th fret make a bar with your 1st finger, now place 2nd finger on the 9th fret of 3rd strings, 3rd finger on the 10th fret of 5th string, and 4th finger on the 10th fret of 4th string.

10 th position

On 10th fret position
10th fret position

This shape is played on the 10th fret. Put your 1st finger on the 10th fret of the 4th strings, 2nd finger on the 12th fret of the 3rd strings, 3rd finger on the 12th fret of the 1st strings, and 4th finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd strings.

13th fret position

C Guitar Chords
13th fret position

Hold 1st and 3rd strings, with your 1st finger on the 12th fret. Place the 2nd finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd strings, 3rd finger on the 14th fret of the 4th strings, and 4th finger on the 15th fret of the 5th strings.

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