C chords for guitar

C → C13

Chords in C

All C chords are derived from the C Major Scale which consists of no sharps or flats and reads: C - D - E - F - G - A - B

C Major key signature
Scale of C Major
C D E F G A B
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
  9th   11th   13th  
Quick Links:
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note

C - C major (1-3-5)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G)

C Major C Major - Barre C Major - Barre 2

C7 - C seventh (1-3-5-b7)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), b7th(Bb)

C7 C7 - Barre C7 - Barre 2

Cm - C minor (1-b3-5)

Spelling: 1st(C), b3rd(Eb), 5th(G)

Cm Cm - Barre Cm - Version 2

Cm7 - C minor seventh (1-b3-5-b7)

Spelling: 1st(C), b3rd(Eb), 5th(G), b7th(Bb)

Cm7 Cm7 - Version 2 Cm7 - Version 3

Cmaj7 (C Δ 7 ) - C major seventh (1-3-5-7)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), 7th(B)

Cmaj7 Cmaj7 - Barre Cmaj7 - Version 2

Csus4 (C sus) - C suspended fourth (1-4-5)

Spelling: 1st(C), 4th(F), 5th(G) - No third

Csus4 Csus4 - Version 2 Csus4 - Barre Csus4 - Barre 2

C7sus4 (C7+4) - C seventh suspended fourth (1-4-5-b7)

Spelling: 1st(C), 4th(F), 5th(G), b7th(Bb) - No third

C7sus4 C7sus4 C7sus4

C6 - C sixth (1-3-5-6)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), 6th(A)

C6 C6 - Version 2 C6 - Version 3

Cm6 - C minor sixth (1-b3-5-6)

Spelling: 1st(C), b3rd(Eb), 5th(G), 6th(A)

Cm6 Cm6 - Version 2 Cm6 - Version 3

C9 - C ninth (1-3-5-b7-9)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), b7th(Bb), 9th(D)

C9 C9 - Version 2 C9 - Version 3

Cm9 - C minor ninth (1-b3-5-b7-9)

Spelling: 1st(C), b3rd(Eb), 5th(G), b7th(Bb), 9th(D)

Cm9 Cm9 - Version 2 Cm9 - Version 3

Cmaj9 (C  ⃤  9 ) - C major ninth (1-3-5-7-9)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), 7th(B), 9th(D)

Cmaj9 Cmaj9 - Version 2 Cmaj9 - Version 3

C6/9 - C six 9 OR C major sixth added ninth (1-3-5-6-9)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), 6th(A), 9th(D)

C6/9 C6/9 - Version 2 C6/9 - Version 3

C7#9 (C7+9) - C seventh augmented ninth (1-3-5-b7-#9)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), b7th(Bb), #9th(D#)

C7#9 C7#9 - Version 2 C7#9 - Version 3

C7b9 (C7-9) - C seventh flat nine or C seventh minor ninth (1-3-5-b7-b9)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), b7th(Bb), b9th(Db)

C7b9 C7-9 C7b9 - Version 2 C7b9 - Version 3

Caug (C+) - C augmented (1-3-#5)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), #5th(G#)

Caug Caug - Version 2 Caug - Version 3

More on augmented chords and why they can be played using similar shapes in a variety of positions.


C7#5 (C7+5) - C seventh augmented fifth (1-3-#5-b7)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), #5th(G#), b7th(Bb)

C7#5 C7#5 - Version 2 C7#5 - Version 3

Cdim (Cº) - C diminished (1-b3-b5)

Spelling: 1st(C), b3rd(Eb), b5th(Gb)

Cdim Cdim - Version 2 Cdim - Version 3

Cdim7 (Cº7) - C diminished seventh (1-b3-b5-bb7)

Spelling: 1st(C), b3rd(Eb), b5th(Gb), bb7th(A)

Cdim7 Cdim7 - Version 2 Cdim7 - Version 3

More on diminished 7th chords and why they can be played using similar shapes in a variety of positions... the 1st position is the most popular.


C-5   C diminished fifth (1-3-b5)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), b5th(Gb)

C-5 C-5 - Version 2 C-5 - Version 3

C7b5 (C7-5) - C seventh diminished fifth (1-3-b5-b7)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), b5th(Gb), b7th(Bb)

C7b5 C7b5 - Version 2 C7b5 - Version 3

C9b5 (C9-5) - C ninth diminished fifth (1-3-b5-b7-9)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), b5th(Gb), b7th(Bb), 9th(D)

C9b5 C9b5 - Version 2 C9b5 - Version 3

C11 - C eleventh (1-3-5-b7-9-11)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), b7th(Bb), 9th(D), 11th(F)

C11 C11 - Version 2 C11 - Version 3

C13 - C thirteenth (1-3-5-b7-9-11-13)

Spelling: 1st(C), 3rd(E), 5th(G), b7th(Bb), 9th(D), 11th(F), 13th(A)

C13 C13 - Version 2 C13 - Version 3

Please Note: Because 13th chords are made up of 7 notes, they are impossible to play on a 6 string guitar. At least one note is always omitted and sometimes more than one depending on the shape of the chord. In these charts the 11th note (F) has been omitted and sometimes the 5th (G).

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