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C major Piano Chord

C major contains C–E–G. The intervals from the root are a major third and a perfect fifth.

Notes and keyboard position

C major
C
Chord tones
CEG
Formula
135
Position
Notes from low to high
C4E4G4
C
Bass: C4
Download C major PDF
Simple reference tone; not a recording of an acoustic piano.

What to notice

All three chord tones are white keys. Moving C above E and G gives E–G–C; E in the bass makes that first inversion, while C remains the root.

Compare three positions

The diagrams keep the chord’s spelling while changing which chord tone is lowest. Read the bass note under each position, then compare the note order. Finger numbers are shown only where the exact example has a source; no hand shape is prescribed for the remaining voicings.

C major: root position, first inversion, and second inversion
PositionSymbolNotes, low to highBass
Root position, current selectionCC4–E4–G4C4
First inversion, current selectionC/EE4–G4–C5E4
Second inversion, current selectionC/GG4–C5–E5G4

Right-hand root-position example

RH root position only, usual choice from Yamaha: C–E–G → 1–3–5.

Chord reference

Common names: C, C major, Cmaj.

Intervals from the root: perfect unison, major third, perfect fifth.

Print this chord reference

Download C major PDF