When you hear musicians say that the C chord on ukulele is the easiest to learn, you better believe them. We will show you why in this guide.
Written by Jay Searle / Published November 9, 2022
Last updated: April 4, 2024
Chord diagrams for the C ukulele chord with suggested fingerings and variations are shown below:
The C Major chord is really important to any study of music theory. A lot of Western music theory is based on the C Major scale because it has no sharps or flats. The C chord on the ukulele is super easy to get down and can be played in several different positions.
So, let’s have a bit of a closer look at what makes up the C Major chord, where it comes from, and how to play it.
See Also: Simple Ukulele Chords for Beginners
What Notes are in the C Chord on Ukulele?
The C Major chord is made up of three notes, namely C, E and G. These notes are taken from the C Major scale. They are the first, third and fifth notes of the scale, and together they make up the major triad.
This set of notes can be combined in a number of ways on the ukulele, each of which has a slightly different sound and playability.
How Do You Play The C Chord on Ukulele?
There are several ways to play the C Major chord. Part of what makes the C Major chord so great for beginners is that it can be played with just one finger. Yep, just one finger. All the other strings are left to ring in the open position.
So, let’s have a look at C Major in this position then. Ukuleles are typically tuned G (4th string), C (3rd string), E (2nd string) and A on the 1st string. It’s important to note though, that, unlike the guitar, the 4th string is not your lowest tone, that is the C or 3rd string on a ukulele. This is because most ukuleles use re-entrant tuning where the 4th string is tuned up an octave.
C Ukulele Chord Variations
Next, we’ll look at playing the C Major chord in different positions of the ukulele. As we move up the fretboard, the order in which we play the notes will change, giving the chord a slightly different sound depending on which note is in the bass. It’s important to note that we are still playing the same notes – that is C, E, and G – just in different orders on the strings.
We’ll show you a few different variations for playing C Major, but this list is not at all exhaustive. Once you know your way around the fretboard, it’s possible to come up with your own shapes and fingerings for any chord!
C Chord Ukulele: 1st Variation
You can also play the C Major chord using the exact same notes. This time, however, we are going to complicate it a little by barring two of the notes and not having any open strings. Moving your hand up to the 3rd fret, your index finger will barre the E and A string, while your middle and ring fingers take care of the rest of the chord.
C Chord Ukulele: 2nd Variation
The third variation of the C Major chord takes the challenge down a notch and uses an open-string voicing again. In this version, move your playing hand up to the 5th fret position and use your index finger to fret the 5th fret of the G string. Then put your middle and ring fingers on the 7th fret of the C and A strings, letting the E ring open. This gives us the C major chord. If that feels too awkward, you can always use your ring finger on the 3rd string, and your pinky on the 1st string.
I hope that makes the C Major chord a little easier to understand and gives you some options in terms of voicings. To get a deeper breakdown of the C Major scale, and how that relates to the C Major chord, have a look at Bernadette Teaches Music’s video on the C Major scale.
How to Play the C Chord on a Baritone Ukulele
The baritone is tuned d-G-B-E. That means that in order to play the C Major chord (C—E—G) where you play the chord will change, but it doesn’t get too complicated at all.
Have a look at the diagram below to see how to play the C Major in open position on the baritone ukulele.
To get a really great explanation of all things C Major on the baritone ukulele, and the construction of the C Major scale specifically on the baritone, have a look at this video from FretboardToolbox on building the C Major scale.
What Songs Use the C Chord on Ukulele?
Oh wow. There are just so many songs that use C Major. If we were to cover them all, we would be here until the death of the sun.
But we can give you some starter choices to get your appetite and imagination going. So here are a couple of tutorials on songs that will use your new skills.
First up, have a look at this really accessible play-along video on Ben. E. King’s Stand by Me from Ukulaliens. This is a beginner-friendly song with a strumming pattern that will have your head bopping.
And last, but certainly not least, this two-chord tutorial, from Corey Teaches Music, will have you doing your best Bob Marley impression with One Love.
And as a last tidbit, if you really want to dive into some chord progressions, have a look at Csounds’ video on essential chord progressions in C Major.
Conclusion
There are actually a few more variations to the C major chord that you can learn as you continue to enhance your ukulele skills. This can be crucial if you want to find a more comfortable finger positioning, especially when you have to shift to another chord without sacrificing your preferred or needed sound. However, as a beginner, sticking to the basic C chord on ukulele variations in this guide is enough for the meantime.
Jay Searle
Website Founder & WriterJay is a self-professed music nerd and ukulele lover. When not working on the website you’ll find him strumming along to his favorite tunes, spending time with his family, or learning to play the piano.
