Chord 8 min·beginner
The C Major Chord
C major is your gateway to the most popular keys in pop music. Three fingers, no barre, infinite payoff.
C major shares two fingers with Am — they’re practically the same shape with the ring finger moved one string. Switching between them is your first bonus drill.
Don’t hit string 6
C’s lowest note is the C on string 5. Mute string 6 with the side of your fretting thumb or the very tip of finger 3.
Drill
- Hold C — pluck strings 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 individually. Each must ring.
- C ↔ Am, one strum per chord, 60s.
- C ↔ G, 60s. Count clean changes.
Self-check
Did you complete the drill above and feel confident with this lesson?
Sources & attribution
- Wikibooks · Guitar / Chords · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lesson copy © Free Chord Book. Content adapted from sources marked CC BY-SA 4.0 is itself shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.