Piano chord · Triads
C major chord on piano
Right hand: C (1), E (3), G (5)
How to play C on piano: the keys to press, which fingers to use, inversions and how it’s written on the staff.
Bright, stable and resolved — the foundation of most songs.
C is the I chord in C major, IV in G major and V in F major. In minor keys: III in A minor, V in F minor, VI in E minor and VII in D minor.
- Notes
- CEG
- Formula
- 135
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th
Piano
Root position · numbers are finger numbers
How to play it
Right handC1 · thumbE3 · middleG5 · pinky
Left handC5 · pinkythe root, an octave lower
Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky. Inversions use the same notes with a different one on the bottom — they help you move smoothly between chords. Tap any key to hear it.
Tips for playing C on piano
Thumb on C, middle finger on E, pinky on G. Every other major triad is this same shape — root, skip a white key, skip another — adjusted for black keys.
You’ll find C in common progressions such as C–G–Am–F (the pop progression in C major), C–F–G–F (three-chord rock in C major) and C–Am–F–G (the ’50s progression in C major).
Learning piano? C is part of stage 1 (“C, F and G”) of our first piano chords path.
