5 Easy Ways For How To Play C Chord On Guitar

Have you ever wondered what the easiest way to play the C chord on guitar is?

Perhaps you’ve looked at a few chord dictionaries or songbooks and you’ve seen a bunch of different variations. And, you aren’t sure which one to use.

Well, below I’m going to share 5 easy ways for how to play the C chord on guitar.

Starting with…

1) The One Finger C Chord

In my humble (but accurate) opinion, this is the easiest C chord to play on guitar. It only requires your index finger on your fretting hand. To play it, place your: 

• Index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
• Keep it on it’s tip
• Strum from the 3rd string down

This C chord can be learned by total beginners in an instant. However, you want to try to only strum 3 strings. If a player strums other adjacent strings open, this is not going to lead to an ideal sound for a C major chord.

From there we have…

2) Two Finger C Chord

This chord shape adds an additional string, in comparison to example #1. To play it, place your: 

• Index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
• Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
• Strum from the 4th string down 

Again, keeping your fingers on the tips is key. You want to have each note and each string ring through clear.

This now brings us to…

3) How To Play The Full C Chord

The previous two C chords were some of the easiest ones I know. However, this one now brings in 3 fingers. From here on out, these 3 chords are more difficult. Once a player adds in this third finger, it requires more dexterity and stretching in the fretting hand. Most players can’t stretch at the beginning. This takes time for younger and older students. But, using this 3-finger C chord has a number of advantages like a fuller sound, and also requires less strum hand control.

You see, if a player plays the previous two versions, and accidentally hits other adjacent strings open. Then this is not going to sound ideal. Using this 3-finger C chord blocks up those extra strings and allows less room for error. 

To play it, place your:  

• Index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
• Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
• Ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
• Strum from the 5th strings down

This then brings us to the…

4) Big Boss Man C Chord

This C chord goes even further and uses all 6 strings. It’s technically a C/G chord and has a very strong sound.  

To play it, place your: 

• Index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
• Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
• Pinkie finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
• Ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string

For this one you get to strum all 6 strings. It also includes all the previous notes from example #4. But does a minor shift in the fretting hand fingering. The index finger goes up one string, and then the pinkie goes on where the index finger was.

The reason it sounds so strong is because it has the 5th of the chord in the bass. This is also known as a second inversion chord.  

Finally, we have something a little bit more experimental and that is…

5) How To Play C Chord With A Capo

One way to make chords easier, or switch up the sound and fingering is to use a capo. A capo is a small device that clamps onto the fretboard of a guitar, pressing down all the strings at a specific fret. This effectively raises the pitch of the open strings and allows you to play in different keys without changing finger positions for chord shapes. 

To play this C chord, place your capo on the 3rd fret and then: 

• Middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
• Index finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string
• Ring finger on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string

Then strum from the 5th string down. This chord is technically an A shape. Another common open chord, however, using the capo on fret 3 makes it sound as a C major chord concert pitch.

That one was a little bit more advanced. However, as you progress, there will be times where you encounter capo chords.

Before we wrap it up, let’s look at a few…

Songs that Use the C Chord

The C chord shows up in a lot of famous songs, for example: 

Let It Be – The Beatles 

Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

Here is an example of multiple shapes/concepts covered above. The original can be played without a capo, and Jeff Buckley’s uses a capo on the 5th fret.

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

Conclusion

There ya have it – 5 super awesome ways for how to play C chord on guitar. Getting these shapes under your fingers is a going to be very useful for playing millions of songs.

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:   

Jon MacLennan