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Chord chart for C major / E (1st inversion) Guitar Chord: Notes, Shapes & Bass Note | Guitar Wiz

C/E guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 240 playable shapes

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C major / E (1st inversion) guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

C major / E (1st inversion)

C/E is the C major / E (1st inversion) guitar chord with E in the bass. It uses the notes C, E, and G and the interval formula 1-3-5.

The C major major chord, built from the root (C major), major third E, and perfect fifth G, delivers a bright, harmonious sound that feels resolved and complete. Its balanced structure makes it the foundation of Western harmony, widely used across all genres to convey joy, strength, and stability. With E in the bass, this voicing functions as the 1st inversion of C major.

Also written as C, Cmaj/E, and CM/E.

Root note: C
Bass note: E
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 240

Chord tones

CEG

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape xx2010

xx2010

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Let the third and first strings ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 4th string down.

Shape 032010

032010

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
  4. 4 Let the sixth, third, and first strings ring open.
  5. 5 Strum from the 6th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

C Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

E Major Third 3

This note defines the chord's major quality and brings brightness to the sound.

G Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

C/E shape xx2010

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Let the third and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

C/E shape 032010

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, third, and first strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C/E shape 032013

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the sixth and third strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C/E shape xx2013

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Let the third string ring open
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

C/E shape 035053

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the sixth and third strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C/E shape 035553

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string and 5th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the sixth string ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C/E shape 035050

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, third, and first strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C/E shape 035550

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the sixth and first strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in C/E?

C/E uses the notes C, E, and G. Its interval formula is 1-3-5.

What is another name for C/E?

C/E is also written as C, Cmaj/E, and CM/E.

How do you play C/E on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string. Let the third and first strings ring open. Strum from the 4th string down.

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