Chords in the key of C major on electric guitar

The key of C major has seven diatonic chords: C, DmDmDmDm, EmEmEmEm, F, G, Am and B°. As sevenths: Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7, Dm7Dm7Dm7Dm7, Em7Em7Em7Em7, Fmaj7Fmaj7Fmaj7Fmaj7, G7G7G7G7, Am7Am7Am7Am7 and Bm7b5. They come from the C major scale, C, D, E, F, G, A and B, one on each note. On electric guitar, the shapes below are the seventh chords of every degree, and the tonic one has C 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. Plugged into an amp, each chord sustains for as long as you hold it, and the tone — clean or driven — shapes the whole sound.

Seventh chords in C major on electric guitar

See also

See every chord in the key of C major →

Updated October 20, 2026