Triads & CAGED
Tip me Open App →

C Major Triads on Guitar — Shapes & Inversions

Prefer drilling over reading? Open the trainer

The C Major triad is C–E–G — R–3–5. Below you'll find all 12 close-voiced shapes within the first 12 frets: every inversion on every string set, color-coded and verified by the engine that powers our trainer.

C
R
root
E
3
major third
G
5
perfect fifth
Root position (R in bass)1st inversion (3rd in bass)2nd inversion (5th in bass)

C Major triads — all positions

Strings 1·2·3 (e · B · G)

3 5 7 9 12 15 3 R 5 5 3 R R 5 3

Strings 2·3·4 (B · G · D)

3 5 7 9 12 15 R 5 3 3 R 5 5 3 R

Strings 3·4·5 (G · D · A)

3 5 7 9 12 15 5 3 R R 5 3 3 R 5

Strings 4·5·6 (D · A · E)

3 5 7 9 12 15 3 R 5 5 3 R R 5 3

C Major triads — full position reference

C Major triads on Strings 1·2·3 (e · B · G), standard tuning
InversionPositionNotes (low to high)Intervals
2nd inversionstring 3 open, string 2 fret 1, string 1 openG–C–E5–R–3
Root positionstring 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 5, string 1 fret 3C–E–GR–3–5
1st inversionstring 3 fret 9, string 2 fret 8, string 1 fret 8E–G–C3–5–R
C Major triads on Strings 2·3·4 (B · G · D), standard tuning
InversionPositionNotes (low to high)Intervals
1st inversionstring 4 fret 2, string 3 open, string 2 fret 1E–G–C3–5–R
2nd inversionstring 4 fret 5, string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 5G–C–E5–R–3
Root positionstring 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 9, string 2 fret 8C–E–GR–3–5
C Major triads on Strings 3·4·5 (G · D · A), standard tuning
InversionPositionNotes (low to high)Intervals
Root positionstring 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 2, string 3 openC–E–GR–3–5
1st inversionstring 5 fret 7, string 4 fret 5, string 3 fret 5E–G–C3–5–R
2nd inversionstring 5 fret 10, string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 9G–C–E5–R–3
C Major triads on Strings 4·5·6 (D · A · E), standard tuning
InversionPositionNotes (low to high)Intervals
2nd inversionstring 6 fret 3, string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 2G–C–E5–R–3
Root positionstring 6 fret 8, string 5 fret 7, string 4 fret 5C–E–GR–3–5
1st inversionstring 6 fret 12, string 5 fret 10, string 4 fret 10E–G–C3–5–R

Where Each Inversion Sits

Strings 1·2·32nd inversion — openroot position — fret 31st inversion — fret 8
Strings 2·3·41st inversion — open2nd inversion — fret 5root position — fret 8
Strings 3·4·5root position — open1st inversion — fret 52nd inversion — fret 9
Strings 4·5·62nd inversion — fret 2root position — fret 51st inversion — fret 10
Download PDF — C chart (all qualities)Open the full triads chart

All printable chart PDFs — every key, free →

How to Practice C Major Triads

Play the shapes on one string set from the nut up: 2nd inversion at open first, then the next inversion, then the next — say the inversion out loud as you land on it. Then lock one fret region and switch between string sets instead. When the shapes come without thinking, test yourself in the trainer: it will flash C Major voicings for you to name, or name them for you to find.

Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the C Major triad?

C (root), E (major third), G (perfect fifth).

How many C Major triad shapes are there on guitar?

Within the first 12 frets there are 12 close-voiced shapes: root position, 1st and 2nd inversions spread across the four three-string sets. Above the 12th fret the same shapes repeat an octave higher.

What is an easy C Major triad shape to start with?

Start on strings 1·2·3 with the lowest shape on the neck (2nd inversion at open) — three notes, no barre, and the same grip moves to every other key.

Related Chords