Learn Guitar: Beginners Guitar Chords: How to Play the C Major Chord

As a new guitar player one of the first things will want to learn is how to play your guitar chords. There are many different kinds of guitar chords. When starting out, however, you will want to learn what are called your basic guitar chords.

Basic beginner guitar chords are located within the first three frets of your guitar. Beginner guitar chords are great way for guitar players to get started without feeling overwhelmed by all of the note possibilities on the guitar neck of the guitar.

When starting out with beginner guitar chords, the C major chord is a great beginner guitar chord to learn. C Major is a great chord to learn on because this chord will teach you the basic foundations of proper chord technique with your left and right hand. If you can play the C major chord, you’ll pretty much be able to play all of the other basic guitar chords found on the first three frets of your guitar.

Let’s take a look at how to play the C major chord.

1. Place your left first finger on the second string first fret.
2. Place your left second finger on the fourth string, second fret.
3. Place your left third finger on the fifth string third fret.
4. Strum the chord

With a little more detail, let’s now expand our study of the C major chord.

1. Place your left first finger on the second string first fret: When playing your guitar chords, remember to place your left fingers as close to the fret of your guitar as possible. The further back on the fret board you play, the higher chance you have of having a bad sounding note.

2. Place your left second finger on the fourth string, second fret: When pressing the guitar notes down with your left hand fingers; press hard enough to hear the guitar note. If you press to lightly you will not be able to hear the guitar note.

3. Place your left third finger on the fifth string third fret: You will want to make sure that your fingers are not touching any of the strings around the notes you are pressing on. If your left hand fingers are touching any other guitar notes; try shifting your fingers around, or moving your wrist forward.

4. Strum the chord: You are now ready to strum your C major chord. With your right hand holding a guitar pick, in a downward stroke, strum all of the guitar strings except for the sixth string. The sixth string should not be played. In order to not hear the sixth string, you can mute the sixth string with your left hand thumb. This will prevent you from being heard if you accidentally hit the E. string with your right hand.