F/C on guitar: F with C in the bass
F/C is the F major chord (F, A, C) with its 5th, C, as the lowest note: the 2nd inversion of F. The notes are the same as in F; only the one at the bottom changes.
- Notes
- FAC
- Bass
- C 5th of the chord
How to play F/C on guitar
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Shape 1 · fret 1 · barre
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Shape 2 · fret 3 · barre
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Shape 3 · fret 8 · barre
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Shape 4 · fret 5
Where F/C shows up
The 5th in the bass is unstable and asks to move. The textbook use is the cadence: F/C → C7 → F, with the bass holding the same note through the first two chords (the "cadential six-four").
Other positions of F
Frequently asked questions
What does F/C mean?
F/C reads "F over C": you play F and the lowest note is C. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between F/C and F?
The notes are the same (F, A, C); only the lowest one changes. With C in the bass, F is in 2nd inversion, and the bass line can move by step between chords.
How do you play F/C on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them C is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).