Chord & FretC on guitar
On the guitar, six strings give the chord room to breathe — some positions use them all, others ask you to mute the lowest ones. In this position the bass is C and the shape runs from fret 1 to 3, ringing 2 open strings. Its hollow wooden body gives every chord a warm, natural ring that blooms and fades on its own.
Notes on C: C – E – GFormula: 1 – 3 – 5In 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: Tonic, subdominant or dominant depending on the scale degree; the foundation of most repertoire.
The shapes of C on guitar don't end on this page — the whole neck holds dozens. In Chord & Fret, you check it note by note, playing any shape as an arpeggio; compare positions with their difficulty marked; and change the tuning — the shape rewrites itself. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. 100% offline.
Unlock in Chord & Fret →Part of the Triads family.