C/E chord on electric guitar
C/E is the with the third in the bass (first inversion) chord: E, G and C (1–3–5 / 3). On electric guitar, the diagram shape is 0 3 2 0 1 0, with E in the bass.
On the electric guitar a chord needs only a few clear notes — the amp sustains them and fills the space, so you mute the strings you are not playing and let the tone carry the rest. In this C/E voicing the bass is E and the shape runs from fret 1 to 3, ringing 3 open strings. Plugged into an amp, each chord sustains for as long as you hold it, and the tone — clean or driven — shapes the whole sound.
Notes and formula of C/E
Notes in C/E: E – G – CFormula: 1 – 3 – 5 / 3In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.
Where to use it
Melodic bass lines and smooth transitions between chords.
See also
Part of the Inversions (slash) family.