C/E Chord
Open Position · Six StringsThe open C chord with the low E string let in. Ring on the A string at fret 3, middle on the D string at fret 2, index on the B string at fret 1 — the fingering does not change at all. The open low E is already an E, the 3rd of C, so strumming all six strings turns C into C/E.
C/E Chord
Open Position · Four StringsThe lightest C/E there is: middle finger on the D string at fret 2 for E, index on the B string at fret 1 for C, and the open G and high e. Start the strum on the D string. With E on the bottom and only four strings, it is a thinner, brighter C that sits well under a vocal.
C/E Chord
5th Fret · A-String BassA closed shape with no open strings, so it moves. Index flat across the D, G and B strings at fret 5 (G, C and E), ring finger on the A string at fret 7 for the E in the bass, and pinky on the high e at fret 8 for C. Let the tip of the ring finger rest against the low E to mute it.
Let the low E ring
In the open shape the only change from C is your strum: start on the low E instead of the A string. If you usually mute the low E with the tip of your ring finger, lift it slightly off.
Hear the bass move
Play F – C/E – Dm – C slowly and listen only to the lowest note: F, E, D, C. That stepwise walk is the reason slash chords exist.
First inversion
C/E is C in first inversion — the 3rd in the bass. Every major chord works the same way with its own 3rd underneath: G/B, D/F#, A/C#, F/A.
A passing chord, not a home
With the 3rd on the bottom, C/E sounds lighter and less settled than C. Use it between two other chords rather than as the chord a song ends on.
Move the closed shape
The fret-5 shape has no open strings, so it slides. Two frets up it becomes D/F#; four frets up it is E/G#.
About the C/E Chord on Guitar
The C/E chord — said "C over E" — is a C major chord with E as its lowest note. It has the same three notes as C (C, E and G); the only difference is which one is on the bottom. E is the 3rd of C, so C/E is C in first inversion. On guitar it is almost free: play the open C shape and let the low E string ring. Slash chords exist to make the bass move smoothly, and C/E is a classic example — F – C/E – Dm walks the bass down F–E–D in the key of C, one step at a time, where F – C – Dm would jump. It is not the same as Em: Em has a B where C/E has a C. This page covers three voicings: the six-string open shape, a four-string open version, and a moveable closed shape at fret 5. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 C/E chord shapes from beginner to intermediate
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Built from 3 notes: C, E and G, with E in the bass
- 05Open six-string, open four-string, and moveable fret-5 voicings
- 06Difficulty rating on every shape
- 07Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the C/E chord and their role in the major scale.
A slash chord names the chord, then the bass note. C/E is a C major triad — root, major third, perfect fifth — with its 3rd, E, as the lowest note. That is C in first inversion: no new notes, just a different one on the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Play the open C chord (x-3-2-0-1-0) and let the low E string ring too: 0-3-2-0-1-0. For a lighter sound, play just the top four strings: x-x-2-0-1-0.
C over E: a C major chord with E as the lowest note.
Yes. E is the 3rd of C, so C/E is C major in first inversion. Same notes as C, different bass.
Between F and Dm in the key of C — F – C/E – Dm walks the bass down F–E–D — and anywhere a C needs to lead smoothly to the next chord.