Open Chords in C Major
In addition to the "standard" campfire chords you've already learned, every chord can be played with many subtle variations.
Some of these variations are described here.
Note that these chords can all be played using the notes of the C major scale.
The role of the capo
Learning these chords will allow you to play most songs in C major with a great deal of flexibility, enabling you to create much more interesting chord progressions than would be possible by merely using the same standard voicings over and over again. And by adding a capo, you can enjoy a similar level of fluency in other keys.
| Capo Position | Original Key | Convert to Key Of |
|---|---|---|
| I | C | C♯ |
| II | C | D |
| III | C | E♭ |
| IV | C | E |
| V | C | F |
Chord Inversions
One variation is to create an inversion of the chord by putting an alternative note in the bass. Usually the root note is in the bass, so placing the 3rd or the 5th in the bass would create an inversion.
Chord Color Tones
Note: a full explanation on adding color tones to chords is beyond the scope of this lesson! For the theory behind it, read more about Chord Tensions.
Chords may be made more colorful by adding other notes from the key, so long as those notes also sound pleasant within the chord's own harmony. For instance, in the key of C, the note D does not normally belong in the C chord. But it can be added for color. The amount of color this tone adds is subject to the length of the colorful note, its overall volume, the way you pluck the string that it is played on, and perhaps most importantly of all the position the colorful note has within a chord. Each of these factors affects the level of emphasis you give to a colorful note. Adding this "D" note by plucking it very softly in a way where it rests somewhere in the middle of the chord voicing, and then almost immediately resolves back down to "C" (a correct note of the chord) will sound quite tasteful. Putting this note in the bass, or playing it loudly or as a very high note will add much more emphasis—and this emphasis may not be desired when all you are trying to do is add a modest bit of color to an otherwise standard chord.
In the key of C major, there are fundamentally 6 different commonly-used chords. You may decorate them each in many subtle ways to add variety to your playing.
| Chord Name | Chord Function | Chord Notes | Optional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | I major (tonic) | C, E, G | D, A, B |
| D- | II minor (subdominant) | D, F, A | E, G, C |
| E- | III minor (tonic) | E, G, B | A, D |
| F | IV major (subdominant) | F, A, C | G, B, D, E |
| G | V major (dominant) | G, B, D | A, E, F |
| A- | VI minor (tonic) | A, C, E | B, D, G |
The Chords
I Major
II Minor
III Minor
IV Major
V Major
VI Minor
Key Tasks
- Study all of the chords above; ask yourself why each of the chords is named the way it is.
- Play through some of your favorite chord progressions from your favorite song(s) using these new chords. In most cases, you can substitute most of the "I" chords for any other "I" chord. There are exceptions, but in general, you can experiment with interchanging these chords freely.
- Example chord progressions to try: I, IV, V, I; VI-, I, V, VI-
