17 chords (including enharmonic equivalents)
ANATOMY
Major Chord Formula
The 3 scale degrees that form every major chord — in any key.
I
Root0 st
III
Major 3rd+4 st
V
Perfect 5th+7 st
A major chord is built from three notes: the root, the major third (four semitones above the root), and the perfect fifth (seven semitones above the root). That stacked interval pattern — 1, 3, 5 of the major scale — is what gives every major chord its bright, resolved sound.
Applied to C: C (root) – E (major 3rd) – G (perfect 5th). Applied to G: G – B – D. Applied to D: D – F# – A.
About this tool
About Major Chords on Guitar
Major chords are the most common chord type in Western music — the bright, "happy" sound at the heart of pop, rock, folk, country, and classical. Every guitarist learns them first because they are the bedrock of nearly every song you will ever play. Once you can move between the five open major shapes (C, A, G, E, D), you can play thousands of songs and unlock the CAGED system for navigating the entire fretboard.
- 01Built from 3 notes: root, major 3rd, perfect 5th (formula 1 – 3 – 5)
- 02Bright, stable, resolved sound — the "happy" end of the harmonic spectrum
- 03The 5 open shapes (C, A, G, E, D) form the CAGED system — a complete map of the fretboard
- 04The I – V – vi – IV progression (C – G – Am – F in C major) is the most-used pop progression of the last 50 years and leans heavily on majors
- 05Functions as the tonic (I), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V) chords in every major key
- 06Symbolised by an uppercase letter alone (C, D, G) or with "maj" / "M" (Cmaj, CM)
- 07Every major chord can be played as a barre chord using the E-shape or A-shape — unlocking every key on the neck