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C Major Chord on Piano – Notes, Inversions and Songs

The C major chord is one of the most commonly used chords in contemporary music, especially pop music.

When you look at your piano keyboard, you’ll see that it’s made up of alternating groups of two black keys and three black keys. The white key to the left of the groups of two black keys is your “C”. This note is the root note of your C major chord.

In this article, we’ll learn how to play this chord easily with the help of diagrams and video tutorials. We’ll also look at how to play the two inversions of this chord.

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The C major chord: what is it?

The C major chord is a fundamental musical chord in music theory. It consists of a triad of three notes: C, E and G. These notes are played together to create the C major chord. This chord is often noted as “C” in Anglo-Saxon notation, where “C” represents the note of C.

In terms of sound, the C major chord is often perceived as bright and cheerful. It is widely used in many musical genres, from classical to pop, rock and jazz. Its use is frequent in contemporary musical productions, as it is relatively easy to play on many instruments, notably the piano and guitar, making it particularly accessible to beginners.

How to play the root position of the C major chord on the piano?

Right hand

Let’s start with the right hand. The C major is made up of 3 notes: a root note, a third and a fifth. To compose this chord, press the following three notes at the same time on your piano with the fingers indicated:

C – First finger (1)

E – Third finger (3)

G – Fifth finger (5)

Notes of the C major chord in the root position of the right hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the C major chord in the root position of the right hand on a score staff.

Left hand

For the left hand, the notes remain the same but the position of the fingers changes. Play your C major by pressing the following 3 notes:

C – Fifth finger (5)

E – Third finger (3)

G – First finger (1)

Notes of the C major chord in the root position of the left hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the C major chord in the root position of the left hand on a score staff.

Tutorial video

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How to play the first inversion of the C major chord on the piano?

Right hand

The first inversion of the C major chord is composed of the following 3 notes in the right hand:

C – Fifth finger (5)
G – Second finger (2)
E – First finger (1)

Notes of the first inversion of the C major chord played with the right hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the first inversion of the C major chord played with the right hand on a score staff.

Left hand

To play the same C major inversion with your left hand, only the position of the fingers changes:

C – First finger (1)
G – Third finger (3)
E – Fifth finger (5)

Notes of the first inversion of the C major chord played with the left hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the first inversion of the C major chord played with the left hand on a score staff.

Tutorial video

How to play the second inversion of the C major chord on the piano?

Right hand

The second inversion of the C major chord is played with the following 3 notes in the right hand:

E – Fifth finger (5)
C – Third finger (3)
G – First finger (1)

Notes for the second inversion of the C major chord played with the right hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes for the second inversion of the C major chord played with the right hand on a score staff.

Left hand

Press the following 3 keys on your keyboard to play the second inversion of C major chord with your left hand and the appropriate fingers:

E – First finger (1)
C – Second finger (2)
G – Fifth finger (5)

Notes for the second inversion of the C major chord played with the left hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes for the second inversion of the C major chord played with the left hand on a score staff.

Tutorial video

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Exercises to master the C major chord on the piano

To master the chord, we suggest a simple two-step exercise. You can use the La Touche Musicale piano learning app, which will wait for you to play the right note before continuing to the next one.

First, we’ll play the C major chord en bloc:

Hand positioning: sit correctly in front of your piano, hands relaxed. Find the notes C, E and G on the keyboard in preparation for playing the C major chord.
Right hand: with your right hand, play the notes C, E and G simultaneously. These notes are played with the thumb (1), middle finger (3) and little finger (5). Practice this chord en bloc several times, ensuring that each note sounds clearly and simultaneously.
Left hand: repeat the same process with the left hand, using the same fingerings but in an inverted position. The thumb plays the G, the middle finger the E, and the little finger the C.
Alternating hands: practice alternating between right and left hands, playing the chord as a block. Start slowly, concentrating on precision and sound quality. Gradually increase the speed of your movements.

Once you’re comfortable playing the chord en bloc with both hands, start working on arpeggios.

Simple arpeggio: instead of playing the three notes simultaneously, play them one after the other rapidly, starting from C with the right hand, then repeat with the left. You can start with C, E, G, then return to E before repeating the cycle. The result is a sequence like this: C – E – G – E – C – E – G – E – C…
Crossed arpeggio: play the arpeggio with the right hand from C to G, then, without stopping, continue the arpeggio with the left hand, starting from C an octave lower.
Rhythm and dynamics: play with dynamics, starting slowly and gradually increasing speed, then vice versa.

This exercise is a starting point. Feel free to adapt it as you progress, and explore other exercises to diversify your practice.

Some popular songs that use the C major

Let It Be by The Beatles

One of The Beatles’ most iconic songs, Let It Be, relies heavily on simple chord progressions, including C major. The song was written by Paul McCartney and became one of the band’s centerpieces, symbolizing peace and acceptance.

Learn to play Let It Be by The Beatles easily on the piano →

Someone Like You by Adele

This beautiful ballad by Adele uses the C major chord in its progression to create a poignant and memorable feeling in the listener. The song was a worldwide success, making a lasting impression with its touching melody and Adele’s exceptional voice.

Learn to play Someone Like You by Adele easily on the piano →

Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley

Although this song explores several chords, C major plays a key role in its harmonic structure. First performed by Elvis Presley, it has become one of the world’s most covered and loved love ballads, spanning generations.c

Learn to play Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley easily on the piano →

Conclusion

The C major chord will be very useful for mastering the basics of music. You’ll find it in many of today’s songs, so if you want to learn to play contemporary pieces on the piano, mastering it will be an essential part of your pianist’s journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

The C major chord: what is it?

It’s a triad made up of a root note, a third and a fifth.

How to play this chord on the piano?

To play this chord, press the following notes on your keyboard:

C – First finger (1)

E – Third finger (3)

G – Fifth finger (5)

.

What is the first inversion for the C major chord played on the piano?

To play the first inversion of this chord, use the following triad:

C – Fifth finger (5)
G – Second finger (2)
E – First finger (1)

How do you play the second inversion of the same chord?

Press the following notes simultaneously to reproduce the second chord inversion:

E – Fifth finger (5)
C – Third finger (3)
G – First finger (1)

Where can I learn to play this chord easily?

La Touche Musicale is a popular app specialized in piano learning. You can register for free and learn to play your favorite songs with this chord and many others.

Where can I learn more chords?

You can use our La Touche Musicale app or browse our blog category to learn how to play all the popular piano chords.

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