C Major Chord on Guitar
The C Major chord contains C, E and G — 3 notes. Every position is marked across the whole fretboard below, labelled with note names and with interval numbers, and the tuning of each string can be changed.
- Root
- Major 3rd
- Perfect 5th
| Degree | 1 | 3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | E | G |
| Interval | Root | Major 3rd | Perfect 5th |
Note names
Interval numbers
Scales containing C
| Major (Ionian) | C F G |
| Natural Minor (Aeolian) | D E A |
| Dorian | D G A |
| Phrygian | E A B |
| Lydian | C F B♭ |
| Mixolydian | C D G |
| Locrian | E F# B |
| Harmonic Lydian (Lydian ♭6) | C F A♭ |
| Harmonic Minor | E F |
| Melodic Minor | F G |
| Melodic Minor ♯4 | D♭ F B♭ |
| Gypsy Minor (Hungarian Minor) | D♭ E F |
| Major Pentatonic | C |
| Minor Pentatonic | A |
| Dominant Pentatonic (Mixolydian Pentatonic) | C |
| Minor Sixth Pentatonic | G |
| Blues | A |
| Dominant Diminished (M2) | C E♭ F# A |
| Tcherepnin (M3) | D E♭ F# G B♭ B |
Circle of fifths
Chords inside C
| Power (5) | C |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Major chord?
C, E and G. That is 3 notes.
How is the C Major chord built?
From a root of C: E is the major 3rd and G is the perfect 5th.
Which scales contain the C Major chord?
C Major (Ionian), D Natural Minor (Aeolian), D Dorian and E Phrygian, among others. Every note of the C Major chord is in those, so they can be played over it.
Which smaller chords are inside the C Major chord?
C Power (5). Each uses only notes the C Major chord already contains.
Practice this on your own guitar
Fretonomy listens to your instrument and drills triads, scales and chords.