How to Play Guitar Chords in the Key of C

Updated 2024
Estimated time to read: 4 minutes

C major is widely used in various genres, making it an essential key for worship music, where clarity and emotion play vital roles. Understanding how to play chords in the key of C major enables rhythm guitarists to build strong foundations for their playing and enhance their ability to collaborate in worship settings.

Sections:

• 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

• More Chords By Key

Chords in the Key of C Major

We can match the notes in the C major scale to the major key 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)

To learn about why each chord is major vs minor vs diminished, read this post: Chord Tonalities for Every Major Key.

To learn about the notes in the key of C major and the C major scale, check out this post: Key of C and the C Major Scale on Guitar.

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 on the chords in the key of C major.

More Chords By Key

Chord Cheat Sheets

Expand your chord variations with our comprehensive chord cheat sheets. Use these quick reference sheets to enhance your skills and boost your confidence. Each key provides two common ways to play each chord for most major keys. Perfect for rehearsals or live worship sessions, our cheat sheets will help you play with clarity and creativity, allowing you to serve skillfully and inspire others in your worship community.