C major chordC

Built from

• Croot
• Emajor 3rd
• G5th

The major 3rd sits four frets above the root and makes the chord sound open and sure of itself.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In C major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. CI
  2. GV
  3. Amvi
  4. FIV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In C major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. CI
  2. FIV
  3. GV
  4. CI

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In C major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. CI
  2. Amvi
  3. FIV
  4. GV

Where it goes next

Thinking in C major, where it is the I chord.

• F

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• G

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• Am

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• Dm

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• Am7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have C, E and G.

• Em

  Shares two notes: a softer swap. Both have E and G.

• Am

  Its relative minor: same key, sadder. Both have C and E.

• C♯dim7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have E and G.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• C major
• C major pentatonic
• C mixolydian
• C lydian

Keys it lives in

• C majoras I
• F majoras V
• G majoras IV
• E minoras VI
• A minoras III
• D minoras VII