C Major Piano Chord - Charts, Harmony and Music Theory (2024)

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Piano Diagram of C Maj in Root Position

To get a C Major chord, you combine the root (C), the 3rd (E), and the 5th note (G) from the C major diatonic scale. In other words, a C Major chord is a major triad built upon the key of C. Keep reading to get a better grip on the music theory behind this fundamental chord.

C Major chord Inversions

The C Major chord has a total of 2 inversions:

Piano Keyboard Diagrams

Music Theory and Harmony of C Major

What are Major Chords?

Major chords are one of the two primary types of chords in music, along with minor chords. The primary distinction between the two lies in the 3rd note of the chord – major chords use a major 3rd, while minor chords use a minor 3rd. Due to the major third interval, major chords generally evoke a “happy” or “bright” quality, creating a sense of stability and resolution.

Building the C Major chord: Different Approaches

Starting from the C Major Scale

To build a major chord, you can use the major scale as a reference. You will need to combine a root, a major 3rd, and a 5th interval.

For instance, to build the C Major chord, you can start with the C Major scale.

To create a C Major chord, apply the formula R, 3, 5 in the following manner:

1. Begin with the root note, which is C.
2. Select the major 3rd interval, which is E, and add it to the chord.
3. Finally, add the 5th interval, which is G.

By following this simple formula, you can create a major chord from any major scale.

by Combining Intervals

One method to create a major chord is by combining specific intervals – a major 3rd, and a minor 3rd. Let’s consider the C Major chord.

3 + m3 = Major Chords

By examining the intervals between the notes, we can see that C-E forms a major 3rd interval, and E-G creates a minor 3rd interval.

These two intervals can be stacked together to create the C Major chord.

How to Use C Maj in a Chord Progression

The following tables display the harmonization of major and their relative natural minor scales for keys that contain a C Major chord in different positions (degrees of the scale).

on Major Scales

• Tonic chord in C Major
• Subdominant chord in G Major
• Dominant chord in F Major

on Natural minor Scales

• Mediant chord in A minor
• Submediant chord in E minor
• Leading tone chord in D minor

C Major chord Function in Major and Minor Keys

Understanding Scale Degrees

When creating chords from a scale, each note in the scale is assigned a degree, which reflects its position in the scale. In the diatonic major scale, there are seven degrees, and each degree has a unique role in the overall harmony of the scale.

1. The first degree of the scale is called the Tonic, and it serves as the foundation for the scale. It provides a stable tonal center and is often referred to as the “home base” of the music.
2. The second degree of the scale is called the Supertonic. It’s typically used as a passing note between the tonic and other scale degrees, and it adds a sense of movement to the melody or harmony.
3. The third degree of the scale is called the Mediant. It’s located halfway between the tonic and dominant notes and helps to establish whether the scale is major or minor.
4. The fourth degree of the scale is called the Subdominant. It’s often used as a complementary harmony to the dominant and adds a sense of tension and resolution to the music.
5. The fifth degree of the scale is called the Dominant. It generates tension and a sense of expectation, and it’s typically resolved by returning to the tonic.
6. The sixth degree of the scale is called the Submediant. It’s often utilized as a transition between the dominant and tonic, and it provides a sense of stability and restfulness to the music.
7. The seventh degree of the scale is called the Leading tone. It’s located one half step below the tonic and produces a strong sense of tension and a desire to resolve to the tonic. It’s often used to create a sense of resolution and finality in the melody or harmony.

C Maj in C Major

The C Major chord is the first chord in the harmonized C major scale. In a major key, the I chord serves as the tonic chord, providing the harmonic center of the chord progression.

C Major chord Progressions as I degree

Play these chord progressions to get an idea of how C Major functions as the tonic (I degree).

ii V I

I IV V

I V vi IV

I IV vi V

C Maj in G Major

The C Major chord can also be found on the fourth degree of the G major scale. In the I-IV-V progression, the chord on the fourth degree serves as a transitional chord between the first and fifth degrees.

C Major chord Progressions as IV degree

Practice playing these chord progressions to grasp the role of C Major as the subdominant (IV degree).

I IV V

I V vi IV

I IV vi V

C Maj in F Major

The C Major chord is a significant chord in the F Major scale as it can be found on the fifth degree (V). When in this position, it serves a dominant function, meaning it creates tension and a sense of resolution toward the tonic chord (I).

C Major as V degree – Chord Progressions

ii V I

I IV V

I V vi IV

I IV vi V

I IV ii V iii vi ii V

C Maj in A Minor

Likewise, if we consider the A minor scale, we can locate the C Major chord as the third degree.

C Major chord Progressions as III degree

These chord progressions can help you comprehend how C Major serves as the mediant (III degree).

i III

i III VII VI

i III iv v

i III ii v

I iii vi V

Circle Progression

(This chord progression is commonly used in many musical genres. It’s called a circle progression because if you continue through the sequence, you will eventually return to the starting point, forming a “circle” of keys.)

C Maj in E Minor

Another instance where you can come across a C Major chord is while playing in the key of E minor. In fact, the C Major chord can be found on the sixth degree of the E minor key.

C Major chord Progressions as VI degree

Try playing these chord progressions to get a sense of how C Major sounds as the submediant (VI degree).

i VI VII

i v VI VII

i III VII VI

Circle Progression

C Maj in D Minor

In the D minor scale, the C Major chord can be found on the VII degree. In this position, it serves as the leading tone chord, which creates a sense of tension and resolution towards the tonic chord (D minor).

C Major as VII degree – Chord Progressions

To hear how the C Major chord functions as the leading tone (VII degree) in a chord progression in the D minor scale, you can play the following chord progressions:

i VI VII

i v VI VII

i III VII VI

Circle Progression

Alternative Names for C Major

• C M
• Do +
• Do M
• CMaj
• Cmag
• C Maj
• C Magg
• Do Magg