C5 Guitar Chord

How to play C5: a power chord (root and fifth) built on C, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.

Chord Diagram

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A common voicing

The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.

How to play C5

Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 5 5 x x (x = not played).

  1. Fret the A string at the 3rd fret.
  2. Add the D and G strings at the 5th fret.
  3. Strum from the A string down, skipping the B and high E strings; the low E string stays silent.

Notes & Intervals in C5

NoteCG
IntervalR5

C5 is a power chord (root and fifth) with C as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C, G. This voicing sounds every chord tone.

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Keys That Use C5

C5 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 6 major keys and 6 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.

Use This Chord

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Questions About C5

What notes are in the C5 chord?

C5 is spelled C, G: the root, 5th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.

How do you play C5 on guitar?

Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 3 5 5 x x (x means the string is not played). Fret the A string at the 3rd fret. Add the D and G strings at the 5th fret. Strum from the A string down, skipping the B and high E strings; the low E string stays silent.

What key is the C5 chord in?

C5 belongs to 12 keys: C major (the I chord), G major (the IV chord), F major (the V chord), Bb major (the ii chord), Eb major (the vi chord), Ab major (the iii chord), C minor (the i), G minor (the iv), F minor (the v), E minor (the VI), A minor (the III) and D minor (the VII).

Related Chords

Other power chord (root and fifth) chords

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