C major arpeggio on guitar
The C major arpeggio (C) has 3 notes: C, E, G, degrees 1, 3, 5 of the chord. On guitar it fits the 5 shapes of the CAGED system, always root to root: two octaves in the G and E shapes and one octave in the C, A, and D shapes.
- C 1
- E 3
- G 5
Whole neck: every note of the arpeggio up to fret 15. The root (C) is highlighted.
Positions as text
C shape (frets 0 to 3), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 5: 3 (C)
- string 4: 2 (E)
- string 3: open (G)
- string 2: 1 (C)
A shape (frets 2 to 5), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 5: 3 (C)
- string 4: 2 (E), 5 (G)
- string 3: 5 (C)
G shape (frets 5 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 8 (C)
- string 5: 7 (E)
- string 4: 5 (G)
- string 3: 5 (C)
- string 2: 5 (E), 8 (G)
- string 1: 8 (C)
E shape (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 8 (C)
- string 5: 7 (E), 10 (G)
- string 4: 10 (C)
- string 3: 9 (E)
- string 2: 8 (G)
- string 1: 8 (C)
D shape (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (C)
- string 3: 9 (E), 12 (G)
- string 2: 13 (C)
Positions on the neck
The positions follow the CAGED system: the neck splits into 5 regions, each with the shape of an open chord (C, A, G, E and D) moved to C. In each shape the arpeggio goes from root to root: two octaves in the E and G shapes (root on the 6th string), one octave in the C and A shapes (root on the 5th) and in the D shape (root on the 4th).
The faded notes around a position are chord tones too: use them to extend the arpeggio down or up.
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down, at the tempo you want. With the whole neck, Listen plays the arpeggio from the lowest root.
Diagrams in standard tuning (E A D G B E).
Formula
- C
- 4
- E
- 3
- G
- 5
- C
Degrees: 1 · 3 · 5 (root, major third, perfect fifth). Distance between the notes: 4 – 3 – 5 semitones, counting the step back to the upper root.
About the major chord
A major chord sounds open, stable and "resolved". It is the backbone of pop, rock, country and folk: the three main chords of a major key (I, IV and V) are all major, and most songs end on one of them.
The chord and the scale
- C major chord (C) The chord shapes on guitar, with sound
- C major scale The scale to practice with it: it has every note of the arpeggio plus the ones in between.
Other C scales with every note of the arpeggio
More C arpeggios
- Major (C)
- Minor (Cm)
- Seventh (C7)
- Major seventh (C7M)
- Minor seventh (Cm7)
- Half-diminished (Cm7(♭5))
- Diminished seventh (C°7)
- Augmented (C+)
The major arpeggio in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C major arpeggio?
The C major arpeggio (C) has the notes C, E, and G: degrees 1, 3, 5 of the chord.
How do you play the C major arpeggio on guitar?
With the CAGED shapes, each from root to root: C shape (frets 0 to 3, 1 octave), A shape (frets 2 to 5, 1 octave), G shape (frets 5 to 8, 2 octaves), E shape (frets 7 to 10, 2 octaves), and D shape (frets 9 to 13, 1 octave).
Which scale goes with the C major arpeggio?
The C major scale, which has every note of the arpeggio. These also have all of them: C major pentatonic scale, C major blues scale, C Lydian scale, C Mixolydian scale, C Nordestina (Brazilian baião) scale, C Phrygian dominant scale, and C dominant diminished (half-whole) scale.