C Chord
The C is a major chord that sounds bright, happy, and resolved. Major chords are the backbone of countless songs. Their bright, stable sound makes them perfect for strumming, picking, and rhythm playing across every genre.
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Open Position
No barre required
Barre Shape — Fret 3
Uses a barre chord technique
How to Play C
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ✕Mute — do not play this string | – |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ●Fret 3 with your ring finger | E |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ●Fret 2 with your middle finger | G |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ○Open — play the open string | C |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | E |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ○Open — play the open string | G |
○ = Open string (no fingers needed)
✕ = Muted string (don't play)
● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret
Notes in C
The C chord is built from 3 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:
Songs Using C
These songs from our play-along library feature the C chord:
Let It Be
The Beatles
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan
Wonderwall
Oasis
Hey Joe
Jimi Hendrix
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Riptide
Vance Joy
Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison
Love Me Do
The Beatles
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
CCR
Take Me Home, Country Roads
John Denver
Free Fallin'
Tom Petty
Creep
Radiohead
No Woman, No Cry
Bob Marley
Zombie
The Cranberries
Heart of Gold
Neil Young
Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Yesterday
The Beatles
House of the Rising Sun
The Animals
Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan
Nothing Else Matters
Metallica
Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Green Day
La Bamba
Ritchie Valens
Leaving on a Jet Plane
John Denver
Banana Pancakes
Jack Johnson
Better Together
Jack Johnson
Counting Stars
OneRepublic
Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash
You Are My Sunshine
Jimmie Davis
Down on the Corner
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Wagon Wheel
Darius Rucker
Perfect
Ed Sheeran
Blackbird
The Beatles
Wonderful Tonight
Eric Clapton
Layla (Unplugged)
Eric Clapton
Redemption Song
Bob Marley
Landslide
Fleetwood Mac
The Sound of Silence
Simon & Garfunkel
Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
Take Me to Church
Hozier
Ho Hey
The Lumineers
Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sultans of Swing
Dire Straits
Enter Sandman
Metallica
Welcome to the Black Parade
My Chemical Romance
21 Guns
Green Day
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
Jolene
Dolly Parton
Other C Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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