C Major
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The C major chord is a triad formed from a root (C), a major third (E) and a perfect fifth (G).
How to play C major on the piano
Looking down at the piano, you'll notice black keys in groups of two and three. Just to the left of each group of two black keys, you’ll find the note C, the root of one of the most common chords played on the piano: C major.
The C major chord is made up of three notes: C, E and G. To play the root position chord on the piano with your right hand, you’d use the following three fingers:
G - Fifth finger (5)
E - Third finger (3)
C - First finger (1)
Read: Our guide to major and minor chords.
To play the root position chord with your left hand, you’d use the following fingers:
G - First finger (1)
E - Third finger (3)
C - Fifth finger (5)
Depending on what you’re playing, you may use different fingers to play the chord. If you haven't already done so, watch the video above to see how the C major chord is built.
What are the inversions of C major?
Above, we learned the root position of the C major chord. If we simply change the order of the same notes, we get two different inversions of C major, which we refer to as the first and second inversions.
How to play the first inversion of C major
The first inversion of C major has E as the lowest note of the chord. With your right hand, you would play the first inversion with the following fingers:
C - Fifth finger (5)
G - Second finger (2)
E - First finger (1)
Read: Our guide to chord inversions.
How to play the second inversion of C major
The second inversion of C major has G as the lowest note of the chord. With your right hand, you’d play this chord with the following fingers:
E - Fifth finger (5)
C - Third finger (3)
G - First finger (1)
Learn more chords with the flowkey app
flowkey’s courses guide you through the essentials of learning chords. Starting with basic triads like C Major and A Minor, the lessons progress to advanced concepts like inversions, improvisation, and accompaniment patterns. Along the way, you’ll gather the skills to start learning your favorite songs, from pop music, jazz, classical, and beyond. Get flowkey today to start learning.
