This chord has 4 voicings across the fretboard. Use the arrows to see each shape and fingering — and tap any dot on the diagram to hear that note.
C Major Guitar Chord
One of the first chords every guitarist learns. Bright and open, C Major forms the foundation of countless songs in popular music.
Also known as
- C
- CM
- C M
- Cmaj
- C maj
- Cmajor
- C major
How to Play This Chord
Position your fingers on the fretboard as shown in the diagram. The vertical lines represent the strings, from low E (left) to high E (right), and the horizontal lines are the frets. Numbers inside the dots indicate which finger to use: 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring), 4 (pinky). An X means don't play that string; an O means play it open. A bar spanning multiple strings means one finger presses across all of them at once — this is known as a barre chord.
Tips & Tricks
The open C major shape is one of the first chords beginners learn, but getting the high E string to ring clean is a common struggle — make sure your first finger arches enough to avoid muting it. Keep your thumb low behind the neck to give your fingers more reach across the fretboard.