Guitar chord reference
C Major guitar chord: five CAGED shapes
A major triad contains root, major 3rd and perfect 5th. Seeing those three functions inside every CAGED form turns five chord grips into a connected map of the same harmony.
Chord construction and function
The major 3rd defines the chord quality; doubled roots and 5ths change the voicing without changing its identity. Track the root location before moving any shape.
- Chord formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
- Notes in C
- C · E · G
C in CAGED neck order
Root notes are highlighted. Each region uses a compact playable voicing, with muted strings, suggested fingers and barres shown explicitly.
C shape
Fingers: × · 4 · 3 · ○ · 2 · ×
A shape
Fingers: × · 1 · 2 · 2 · 2 · ×
Finger 2 barre · fret 5 · strings 4–2
G shape
Fingers: 4 · 3 · 1 · 1 · × · ×
Finger 1 barre · fret 5 · strings 4–3
E shape
Fingers: 1 · 3 · 3 · 2 · × · ×
Finger 3 barre · fret 10 · strings 5–4
D shape
Fingers: × · × · 1 · 2 · 3 · 2
Finger 2 barre · fret 12 · strings 3–1
Practice drill
Play the same chord through C–A–G–E–D shapes from low to high. Name the lowest sounding chord tone in each voicing and keep transitions rhythmically even.
Follow the guitar chord practice guide for clean placement, timed changes and connected CAGED movement.
Learn how the five movable forms overlap, where their roots sit and when to use partial voicings in the CAGED system guide.
Open the chord randomiser