Table of Contents
How to play the C chord on bass
This is the easiest and most common way to play the C chord on the bass. I recommend playing it with your ring, pinky, and middle fingers, but you can also play it with your middle, ring, and index fingers.

You can also play it as a Dyad. The C major dyad is a simplified C chord that includes only two notes: the root (C) and the third (E).

You can use this C major arpeggio diagram to construct the C chord anywhere you want on the bass fretboard.

Other names for C Major
The C major chord can be written in several ways, including:
- C Major
- Cmaj
- C
These notations all represent the same chord, built from the notes C, E, and G.
Practicing the C chord on bass
The C chord is the root chord in the C major scale, so use it in a 1-4-5 progression in from C major. This gives you the chords C-F-G.
C major also sounds great as the IV chord in the G major scale. Use it in a G major progression such a G-Emin-C-D.
The C chord is the root chord (I) in the C major scale and is commonly used in a 1-4-5 progression, giving you the chords C – F – G.
C major also functions as the IV chord in the G major scale. You can use it in a G major progression, such as G – Em – C – D, for a great sound. This gives you a 1-6-4-5 progression in G major.