×CEGCE
Fig. 1 · C · open

guitar chord

C

C1E3G5

A major third and a perfect fifth over the root.

on ukuleleon pianothe scale

Every fingering that fits a hand

Fig. 2

x32010

open

Fig. 3

x35050

easy

Fig. 4

x32050

easy

Fig. 5

x32013

moderate

Fig. 6

x3201x

open

What is true of it

C is C, E and G — 1, 3 and 5 counted from C.

On an instrument that cannot reach all 3, the 5 goes first, in that order.

The easiest of the 5 fingerings below is x32010: 3 fingers, held at the 1st fret.

2 of them use open strings, which is what makes a shape quiet to change to.

1 string stays silent.

Where its notes are on the neck

EADGBE123456789101112351313535151351353513
Fig. 7 — first 12 frets

The brass dots are C, the root. Everything else is a chord tone with its degree printed in it.

With a different note underneath

first inversion

C/E

032010

second inversion

C/G

332010

An inversion is the same chord with a different note lowest. The name changes to a slash name because the bass is what a listener hears as the foundation.

C in other shapes

CmminorCdimdiminishedCaugaugmentedC5power chordCsus2suspended secondCsus4suspended fourth

C♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯all 374