C Chords on Guitar

Every common C chord: major, minor, sevenths, sus chords and diminished. Open shapes first, then the barre shapes up the neck. 19 diagrams. 🎸

C majorC

Bright and settled. Most songs start and end here.

Notes: C E G
Formula: 1 3 5

COpen position

CRoot on the 5th string, 3rd fret

CRoot on the 6th string, 8th fret

C minorCm

Lower the 3rd by one fret, and the mood turns.

Notes: C Eb G
Formula: 1 b3 5

CmRoot on the 5th string, 3rd fret

CmRoot on the 6th string, 8th fret

C seventhC7

Bluesy and a little restless. It wants to move on.

Notes: C E G Bb
Formula: 1 3 5 b7

C7Open position

C7Root on the 5th string, 3rd fret

C7Root on the 6th string, 8th fret

C major seventhCmaj7

Soft and dreamy. Late-night soul in one chord.

Notes: C E G B
Formula: 1 3 5 7

Cmaj7Open position

Cmaj7Root on the 5th string, 3rd fret

Cmaj7Root on the 6th string, 8th fret

C minor seventhCm7

Mellow and smooth. A minor chord with its shoulders down.

Notes: C Eb G Bb
Formula: 1 b3 5 b7

Cm7Root on the 5th string, 3rd fret

Cm7Root on the 6th string, 8th fret

C suspended secondCsus2

Open and airy. Neither happy nor sad.

Notes: C D G
Formula: 1 2 5

Csus2Open position

Csus2Root on the 5th string, 3rd fret

C suspended fourthCsus4

Tense, until it falls back to the major chord.

Notes: C F G
Formula: 1 4 5

Csus4Open position

Csus4Root on the 5th string, 3rd fret

Csus4Root on the 6th string, 8th fret

C diminishedCdim

Dark and dramatic. Best as a quick step between two chords.

Notes: C Eb Gb
Formula: 1 b3 b5

CdimRoot on the 5th string, 3rd fret

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C chord?

C major is C, E, G. C minor is C, Eb, G: the same chord with the middle note one fret lower.

What is the easiest way to play C on guitar?

The open C chord at the top of this page. It uses open strings, so it needs the least strength in your fretting hand.

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