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Guitar Standard
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C/G on guitar: C with G in the bass

C/G is the C major chord (C, E, G) with its 5th, G, as the lowest note: the 2nd inversion of C. The notes are the same as in C; only the one at the bottom changes.

Notes
CEG
Bass
G 5th of the chord

How to play C/G on guitar

  1. Shape 1 · 1st position

    C/G chord on guitar, shape 1: first position, with open strings, notes C, E, G

  2. Shape 2 · fret 3 · barre

    C/G chord on guitar, shape 2: barre at fret 3, notes C, E, G

  3. Shape 3 · fret 5 · barre

    C/G chord on guitar, shape 3: barre at fret 5, notes C, E, G

  4. Shape 4 · fret 8 · barre

    C/G chord on guitar, shape 4: barre at fret 8, notes C, E, G

Where C/G shows up

The 5th in the bass is unstable and asks to move. The textbook use is the cadence: C/G → G7 → C, with the bass holding the same note through the first two chords (the "cadential six-four").

Other positions of C

Frequently asked questions

What does C/G mean?

C/G reads "C over G": you play C and the lowest note is G. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.

What is the difference between C/G and C?

The notes are the same (C, E, G); only the lowest one changes. With G in the bass, C is in 2nd inversion, and the bass line can move by step between chords.

How do you play C/G on guitar?

The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them G is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).

C chord on guitar