- 5th string: not played
- 4th string: not played
- 3rd string: not played
- 2nd string: not played
- 1st string: not played
Swipe the neck for higher frets ›
- Root
- Chord note
- Open string
- Not played
The C Major chord on banjo consists of the notes C, E, G and is built from the formula I - III - V. In this chord, the root is C, the major third is E, and the perfect fifth is G.
Reading the Chord Diagram
Each dot is a note to hold down, named on the dot, and the root, C, has a white border. A lightly striped note before the nut is an open string, and a cross means that string is not played. Shape 1 sits closest to the nut with the fewest fingers; the arrows beside Shape step through every other way to play this chord, up to the 15th fret.
The short fifth string starts at the 5th fret. In Open G its open note is G, a note of this chord, so it rings open.
About the C Major Chord
The major chord is one of the most fundamental chords in banjo playing and forms the backbone of countless bluegrass and folk songs. Its bright, resolved sound makes it the home base for Scruggs-style three-finger picking and clawhammer strumming alike. Most bluegrass progressions are built entirely around major chords.