The C Major Chord in the Open Position – Shape 1

This shape for the C major chord is one of the chords from our list of the top-10 most useable guitar chords that every beginner should learn.

1. Index finger on C (b-string)
2. Middle finger on E
3. Ring finger on C (A-string)
4. Do not play the low E-string

A nice compositional or arranging device is to use the parallel minor chord, which in this case is Am. The open Am7 chord-shape shares most notes with this C chord, which gives you a subtle harmonic shift by altering the bass while keeping the core sound of the upper harmonic structure identical.