How to Play Guitar Chords in the Key of C

Updated 2023
Estimated time to read: 8 minutes

This post will help expand your chord vocabulary to include chords in the key of C major. If you’re not quite familiar with what chords are included in the key of C or how to play them, this is the perfect starting point. You’ll also learn some useful patterns to add to your musical tool belt. Similar posts follow the same format, including How to Play Guitar Chords in the Key of G.

Sections:

• Key of C Major and the C Major Scale

• Chord Tonalities for the Key of C Major

• Chords in the Key of C Major

• Chord 1: C Major (C)

• Chord 2: D Minor (Dm)

• Chord 3: E Minor (Em)

• Chord 4: F Major (F)

• Chord 5: G Major (G)

• Chord 6: A Minor (Am)

• Chord 7: B Diminished (Bº, Bdim)

• Wrapping it up

Key of C Major and the C Major Scale

To play chords in the key of C, first we need to know what “key of C” even means.

When we play in the key of C, the starting note of the corresponding scale if C. This means we can start on C and follow the major scale formula. Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve any math. The major scale formula is simply a pattern of whole and half steps (2 or 1 frets respectively) that help us choose the correct notes to include in the key.

As a reminder the major scale formula is: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half.

Counting the number of frets, it would be: 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1.

If you’re looking for a more in-depth explanation complete with diagrams, examples, and practice questions, feel free to read this detailed post on the major scale formula before continuing.

Let’s start with C and follow the pattern to make sure we select the correct notes. We’ll use the B string, as C is on the first fret so we have a lot of fretboard to work with. Beginning on the first fret of the B string (C), we go up a whole step (2 frets) to D. Then another whole step (2 frets) to E. Then we go up a half step (1 fret) to F. From F we go up a whole step to G. From G a whole step to A. From A a whole step to B. Finally, we need to return to the same note that we started with, which is a half step up from B, ending on C at the 13th fret.

Notice the distances between each of the notes as we continue up the fretboard. They follow the pattern of the major scale formula and we end up at C again on the 13th fret. Now that we know the notes, C D E F G A B and C, we know that each of these notes has a corresponding chord.

The next question we need to ask is, “What are the chord tonalities of each of these chords?” In other words, how do we know which ones are major, which ones are minor, and which ones are diminished?

Chord Tonalities for the Key of C Major

The groups of notes we found following the major scale formula make up a scale. This scale corresponds to a key and contains the same notes. This key has one root note that holds the group of notes together musically, and in turn these notes are related back to the root note (C). This one note is how we identify the key (i.e. key of C).

This is tonality in a nutshell. However, when we go deeper into the individual chords, their tonality references the way they sound and function within the key. The available base chord tonalities include: major, minor, diminished, and augmented. Augmented chords are the only ones that do not occur naturally in major scales (using only the notes in the key), so we won’t be seeing any augmented chords here.

Now, we’re going to use yet another pattern (again, no math involved) that simply tells us which chords are major, minor, and diminished in a major key. Here’s the pattern:

Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor, Diminished.

Written another way using shorthand it might look like this: M, m, m, M, M, m, d. An upper case “M” stands for major, lower case “m” stands for minor, and a lower case “d” stands for diminished.

Chords in the Key of C Major

All this means we can now match the notes in the C major scale to the chord tonality pattern to determine which types of chords are included in the key of C. They are:

C (C Major)

Dm (D minor)

Em (E minor)

F (F Major)

G (G Major)

Am (A minor)

Bdim (B diminished)

Chord 1: C Major (C)

The C Major chord is also simply called the C chord since being a major chord is implied.

To play this chord, you’ll place your third finger on the A string 3rd fret, your second finger on the D string 2nd fret, play the open G string, place your first finger on the B string 1st fret, and play the open high e string.

Visit the chord library here for more variations of the C major chord.

Chord 2: D Minor (Dm)

The D minor chord is also written as Dm with a little “m” to show that it’s not major.

To play this chord, you’ll play the open D string, place your second finger on the G string 2nd fret, your third finger on the B string 3rd fret, and your first finger on the high e string 1st fret.

Visit the chord library here for more variations of the D minor chord.

Chord 3: E Minor (Em)

The E minor chord is also written as Em with a little “m” to show that it’s not major.

To play this chord, you’ll play the open low E string, place your first finger on the A string 2nd fret, your second finger on the D string 2nd fret, and play the rest of the open strings.

Visit the chord library here for more variations of the E minor chord.

Chord 4: F Major (F)

The F Major chord is also simply called the F chord since being a major chord is implied.

To play this chord, you’ll place your third finger on the D string 3rd fret, your second finger on the G string 2nd fret, and your first finger on the B string 1st fret. Optionally, you can bar both the B string and the high e string with your first finger on the 1st fret, as shown below.

Visit the chord library here for more variations of the F major chord.

Chord 5: G Major (G)

The G Major chord is also simply called the G chord since being a major chord is implied.

To play this chord, you’ll place your third finger on the low E string 3rd fret, your second finger on the A string 2nd fret, play the open strings D, G, and B, place your fourth finger on the high e string 3rd fret.

Visit the chord library here for more variations of the G major chord.

Chord 6: A Minor (Am)

The A minor chord is also written as Am with a little “m” to show that it’s not major.

To play this chord, you’ll play the open A string, place your second finger on the D string 2nd fret, your third finger on the G string 2nd fret, first finger on the B string 1st fret, and play the open high e string.

Visit the chord library here for more variations of the A minor chord.

Chord 7: B Diminished (Bº, Bdim)

The B diminished (B diminished) chord is also written as Bº or Bdim. A full circle after the root note of the chord indicates that it’s a diminished chord. You can also abbreviate diminished to “dim” for short.

In all reality you probably won’t play a diminished chord during contemporary worship, however, you may play Cospel, Jazz, Funk, or enjoy writing your own music and may need to know this chord. It all depends on the artist and the styles/genres that they use as inspiration.

To play this chord, you’ll place your first finger on the D string 3rd fret, your third finger on the G string 4th fret, and your second finger on the B string 3rd.

Visit the chord library here for more variations of the B diminished chord.

Wrapping it up

There’s a lot of information here to absorb and learn to play on your guitar. Take your time and reference this post whenever you need to refresh your memory.

You can explore chords in other keys by reading similar posts written in the same style: How to Play Guitar Chords in the Key of G.

If you’re ready to expand your chord vocabulary into different keys, check out the Chord Cheat Sheet Bundles in the shop. Each bundle contains 2 popular variations of each chord for a number of different keys and are available in open position, different capo positions, as well as for bar chords.