Piano chord

C Major Piano Chord

The C Major chord on piano is made of the notes C, E and G. Bright, happy, and stable. The most common chord type.

C Major chord on a piano keyboard: C, E, G C4C5 C E G

C C – E – G

Tap any key to hear it.

Name any chord from its keys in the chord finder →

What notes are in C Major?

3 notes, built 1 – 3 – 5 up from C.

Notes
C – E – G
Formula
1 – 3 – 5
Semitones from the root
0 – 4 – 7
Symbol
C
Chord type
Major, 3 notes

How to play C Major on piano

  • Right hand: C (1), E (3), G (5). Fingers 1 – 3 – 5, thumb on C.
  • Left hand: C (5), E (3), G (1). Fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on C.

Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) on both hands.

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C Major inversions

Each inversion puts a different note of the chord in the bass. Written as a slash chord: C/E, C/G.

C Major root position on piano: C, E, G C E G
Root position C C – E – G RH 1 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 1
C Major 1st inversion on piano: E, G, C E G C
1st inversion C/E E – G – C RH 1 – 2 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 1
C Major 2nd inversion on piano: G, C, E G C E
2nd inversion C/G G – C – E RH 1 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 2 – 1

Progressions with C Major

Press play: the chords move across the keyboard as they sound, voiced so your hand barely moves.

Pop progression

in C major

  1. I C
  2. V G
  3. vi Am
  4. IV F
Pop progression in C major: C, G, Am, F C E G

Three-chord classic

in G major

  1. I G
  2. IV C
  3. V D
  4. I G
Three-chord classic in G major: G, C, D, G B D G

Can you find C Major?

Tap the notes on the keyboard, then check. Six chords, starting with this one.

1 / 6 Tap the notes of C Major (C)

Score 0

Any octave, any order. Each key you tap plays.

Practice keyboard: tap the notes of the chord

What key is C Major in?

The keys whose scale contains every note of C, with the chord’s Roman numeral in each.

Major keys

  • C majorI
  • G majorIV
  • F majorV

Minor keys

  • A minorIII
  • F minorV (harmonic minor)
  • E minorVI
  • D minorVII

C Major chord FAQ

What notes are in the C Major chord?

C Major has 3 notes: C, E and G. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5, counted up from C.

How do you play C Major on the piano?

Put your right thumb on C and play C, E and G with fingers 1 – 3 – 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on C.

What are the inversions of C Major?

1st inversion: E, G, C (C/E). 2nd inversion: G, C, E (C/G).

What key is C Major in?

C belongs to C major (I), G major (IV), F major (V), A minor (III), E minor (VI) and D minor (VII).

Other C chords

Major chords on every root

Piano chord chart: all 264 chords Open C in the chord finder Free PDF chord chart Play it on the virtual piano