C major (C) on guitar
The C major scale consists of the notes C – D – E – F – G – A – B and has no sharps or flats. Below you can see every usable note on the neck up to fret 15.
♪ Click a note on the fretboard to hear its sound.
Chords in C major
Common progression: C – G – Am – F (I–V–vi–IV).
Quick overview
- Root note
- C
- Mode
- major
- Key signature
- no sharps or flats
- Pentatonic
- C D E G A
- Relative key
- A minor
Well-known songs in C major
- All the Small ThingsBlink-182
- Brown SugarThe Rolling Stones
- Can't Buy Me LoveThe Beatles
- Don't Look Back in AngerOasis
- Dust in the WindKansas
- HallelujahLeonard Cohen
- Have You Ever Seen the RainCreedence Clearwater Revival
- Ho HeyThe Lumineers
- Hound DogElvis Presley
- ImagineJohn Lennon
- JumpVan Halen
- Lean on MeBill Withers
- Let It BeThe Beatles
- Like a Rolling StoneBob Dylan
- Mustang SallyWilson Pickett
- My GirlThe Temptations
- No Woman, No CryBob Marley
- Piano ManBilly Joel
- Simple ManLynyrd Skynyrd
- SomethingThe Beatles
- Space OddityDavid Bowie
- Stay With MeSam Smith
- The BoxerSimon & Garfunkel
- Tiny DancerElton John
- Use SomebodyKings of Leon
Key of the original recording; live versions or covers may differ.
CAGED positions
With the CAGED system you play C in five positions across the whole neck. Each shape connects to the next.
- C shapearound fret 0 · root on A string, fret 3
- A shapearound fret 3 · root on A string, fret 3
- G shapearound fret 5 · root on low E string, fret 8
- E shapearound fret 8 · root on low E string, fret 8
- D shapearound fret 10 · root on D string, fret 10
Learn C major in 5 steps
Step 1
Find the root note C
Find C on the low E string (fret 8) and on the A string (fret 3). Play them alternately and say the name out loud. Every pattern below hangs off these two points.
Step 2
Play the main chords
Learn the three most important chords: C (I), F (IV) and G (V). Switch between them at a slow tempo until you can play through without stopping.
Step 3
Learn the pentatonic in box 1
The major pentatonic (C D E G A) is the first pattern to learn. Put your index finger around fret 5 and play two notes per string, from the low E to the high e and back.
Step 4
Extend to the full scale
Add the two missing notes (F and B) in the same position. Now you're playing all seven notes of C majeur: C D E F G A B.
Step 5
Improvise over a chord progression
Record C – G – Am – F (or ask someone to play it) and solo over it using box 1. End your phrases on C and listen to how that "coming home" sounds.
Playing C major with a capo
- No capo, shapes in C
- Capo at fret 3, shapes in A
- Capo at fret 5, shapes in G
Solo tips for C major
- Start with the major pentatonic scale (C D E G A). The best-known "box" pattern starts on the root C on the low E string, fret 8.
- End your phrases on the root C for a resolved feeling, or on the third E and fifth G for tension.
- Add the blue note E♭ as a passing note for a bluesy sound — don't linger on it too long.
- Over the G chord (the V) deliberately play the notes of that chord to make the chord changes audible.
Frequently asked questions about C major
Which notes are in C majeur?
C majeur (C) consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The key signature has no sharps or flats.
Which chords fit C majeur?
The diatonic chords in C majeur are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim. You can freely combine them; they all sound good within the key.
What is the relative key of C majeur?
The relative key is A minor. It uses exactly the same notes and key signature, just with a different tonal centre.
Which pentatonic scale do you use in C majeur?
Use the major pentatonic scale: C, D, E, G, A. It avoids the "tricky" half-step intervals and almost always sounds good.
How do I find C on the guitar neck?
You'll find the root C on the low E string at fret 8 and on the A string at fret 3, among other places.