Home › Guitar chord chart › C chords Standard tuning · open & barre shapes
C Guitar Chords
Every common C chord on guitar — major, minor, sevenths, sus, add9, diminished and more — with up to three ways to play each one, from open position to barre chords up the neck. Tap ▶ Strum to hear a shape, or Pick to hear it one string at a time.
C C major Notes: C – E – G · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 · Bright and stable — the most common chord there is.
Loop it C chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-2-0-1-0) × C E G C E Open position x 3 2 0 1 0 ▶ Strum Pick C chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-5-5-3) 3fr × C G C E G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 5 5 3 ▶ Strum Pick C chord — EADGBE tuning (8-10-10-9-8-8) 8fr C G C E G C Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 10 10 9 8 8 ▶ Strum Pick
Cm C minor Notes: C – D# – G · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 · Darker and sadder than major.
Loop it Cm chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-5-4-3) 3fr × C G C D# G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 5 4 3 ▶ Strum Pick Cm chord — EADGBE tuning (8-10-10-8-8-8) 8fr C G C D# G C Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 10 10 8 8 8 ▶ Strum Pick Cm chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-12-13-11) 10fr × × C G C D# Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 12 13 11 ▶ Strum Pick
C7 C dominant 7th Notes: C – E – G – A# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 · Bluesy and restless; wants to move to the chord a fifth below.
Loop it C7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-2-3-1-0) × C E A# C E Open position x 3 2 3 1 0 ▶ Strum Pick C7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-3-5-3) 3fr × C G A# E G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 3 5 3 ▶ Strum Pick C7 chord — EADGBE tuning (8-10-8-9-8-8) 8fr C G A# E G C Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 10 8 9 8 8 ▶ Strum Pick
Cmaj7 C major 7th Notes: C – E – G – B · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 · Soft, dreamy and jazzy.
Loop it Cmaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-2-0-0-0) × C E G B E Open position x 3 2 0 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick Cmaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-4-5-3) 3fr × C G B E G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 4 5 3 ▶ Strum Pick Cmaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (8-X-9-9-8-X) 8fr × × C B E G Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 x 9 9 8 x ▶ Strum Pick
Cm7 C minor 7th Notes: C – D# – G – A# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 · Mellow minor — soul, R&B and jazz.
Loop it Cm7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-3-4-3) 3fr × C G A# D# G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 3 4 3 ▶ Strum Pick Cm7 chord — EADGBE tuning (8-10-8-8-8-8) 8fr C G A# D# G C Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 10 8 8 8 8 ▶ Strum Pick Cm7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-12-11-11) 10fr × × C G A# D# Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 12 11 11 ▶ Strum Pick
Csus2 C suspended 2nd Notes: C – D – G · Formula: 1 – 2 – 5 · Open and airy: neither major nor minor.
Loop it Csus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-0-0-1-3) × C D G C G Open position x 3 0 0 1 3 ▶ Strum Pick Csus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-5-3-3) 3fr × C G C D G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 5 3 3 ▶ Strum Pick Csus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-12-13-10) 10fr × × C G C D Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 12 13 10 ▶ Strum Pick
Csus4 C suspended 4th Notes: C – F – G · Formula: 1 – 4 – 5 · Tense in a gentle way; usually resolves to major.
Loop it Csus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-3-0-1-1) × C F G C F Open position x 3 3 0 1 1 ▶ Strum Pick Csus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-5-6-3) 3fr × C G C F G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 5 6 3 ▶ Strum Pick Csus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (8-10-10-10-8-8) 8fr C G C F G C Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 10 10 10 8 8 ▶ Strum Pick
Cadd9 C add 9 Notes: C – D – E – G · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 · A major chord with sparkle on top.
Loop it Cadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-2-0-3-0) × C E G D E Open position x 3 2 0 3 0 ▶ Strum Pick Cadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-7-5-3) 3fr × C G D E G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 7 5 3 ▶ Strum Pick Cadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-15-14-12-15-12) 12fr × C E G D E C-shape, root on string 5, fret 15 x 15 14 12 15 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C6 C major 6th Notes: C – E – G – A · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 · Sweet, vintage sound — swing and country.
Loop it C6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-5-5-5) 3fr × C G C E A Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 5 5 5 ▶ Strum Pick C6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-12-10-12) 10fr × × C G A E Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 12 10 12 ▶ Strum Pick
Cm6 C minor 6th Notes: C – D# – G – A · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – 6 · Minor with a mysterious, film-noir twist.
Loop it Cm6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-5-4-5) 3fr × C G C D# A Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 5 4 5 ▶ Strum Pick Cm6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-12-10-11) 10fr × × C G A D# Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 12 10 11 ▶ Strum Pick
C9 C dominant 9th Notes: C – D – E – G – A# · Formula: 1 – 3 – (5) – ♭7 – 9 · Funky and soulful.
Loop it C9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-2-3-3-3) × C E A# D G Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 2 3 3 3 ▶ Strum Pick C9 chord — EADGBE tuning (8-10-8-9-8-10) 8fr C G A# E G D Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 10 8 9 8 10 ▶ Strum Pick C9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-15-14-15-15-15) 14fr × C E A# D G Barre, root on string 5, fret 15 x 15 14 15 15 15 ▶ Strum Pick
Cdim C diminished Notes: C – D# – F# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 · Tense and unstable — a passing chord.
Loop it Cdim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-4-5-4-X) 3fr × × C F# C D# Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 4 5 4 x ▶ Strum Pick Cdim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-11-13-11) 10fr × × C F# C D# Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 11 13 11 ▶ Strum Pick
Cdim7 C diminished 7th Notes: C – D# – F# – A · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7 · Dramatic and symmetrical: repeats every 3 frets.
Loop it Cdim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-4-5-4-5) 3fr × C F# C D# A Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 4 5 4 5 ▶ Strum Pick Cdim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-11-10-11) 10fr × × C F# A D# Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 11 10 11 ▶ Strum Pick
Cm7b5 C half-diminished (m7♭5) Notes: C – D# – F# – A# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 · The ii chord of minor keys.
Loop it Cm7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-4-3-4-X) × × C F# A# D# Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 4 3 4 x ▶ Strum Pick Cm7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-11-11-11) 10fr × × C F# A# D# Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 11 11 11 ▶ Strum Pick
Caug C augmented Notes: C – E – G# · Formula: 1 – 3 – ♯5 · Dreamy and unresolved; repeats every 4 frets.
Loop it Caug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-2-1-1-0) × C E G# C E Open position x 3 2 1 1 0 ▶ Strum Pick Caug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-6-5-5-4) 3fr × C G# C E G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 6 5 5 4 ▶ Strum Pick Caug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-10-13-13-12) 10fr × × C G# C E Root on string 4, fret 10 x x 10 13 13 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C5 C power chord (5) Notes: C – G · Formula: 1 – 5 · No 3rd, so it suits distortion — rock and metal.
Loop it C5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-3-5-5-X-X) 3fr × × × C G C Barre, root on string 5, fret 3 x 3 5 5 x x ▶ Strum Pick C5 chord — EADGBE tuning (8-10-10-X-X-X) 8fr × × × C G C Barre, root on string 6, fret 8 8 10 10 x x x ▶ Strum Pick
Where C chords show up
C major is the I, IV or V chord in the keys of C, G, F. Cm is the ii, iii or vi chord in Bb, Eb, Ab. Try a progression that uses it in the progressions library , or find the key of your own song with the key finder .
How to read these chord diagrams
Strings run left to right from the thick low E (string 6) to the thin high E (string 1). A dot means press that fret; O above the nut means play the string open, × means don't play it. A bar across several strings is a barre — press them all with one finger. Red dots are the root note (C). The letters under each diagram are the notes that sound.
Not in standard tuning? The chord finder works out shapes for any tuning, and the tunings library has chord charts for 20 alternate tunings.
Questions How do you play a C chord on guitar? The most common C major shape is shown first on this page in open position; the diagram shows which frets to press and which strings to skip.
What notes are in a C chord? C major contains C – E – G. C minor lowers the middle note by one fret.