C Major Piano Chord
Root
C3rd
E5th
GE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
E
G
The Notes in a C Major Chord
The Root
The root is the bottom note of the chord, the starting point to which the other notes relate. The root of a C Major chord is C.
The 3rd
The third of a C Major chord is E. The third is up four half-steps from the Root.
Finding E from C step by step:
- Start on: C
- Step 1: move up to Db
- Step 2: move up to D
- Step 3: move up to Eb
- Step 4: Land on E
3rd
ERoot
C1
2
3
- Db is a minor second above C.
- D is a major 2nd above C.
- Eb is a minor third above C.
- E is a major third above C.
The 5th
The fifth of a C Major chord is G. The fifth is down five half-steps from the Root.
Finding G from C step by step:
- Start on: C
- Step 1: move down to B
- Step 2: move down to Bb
- Step 3: move down to A
- Step 4: move down to Ab
- Step 5: Land on G
5th
GRoot
C1
2
3
4
- B is a minor second below C.
- Bb is a major 2nd below C.
- A is a minor third below C.
- Ab is a major third below C.
- G is a fourth below C. The 5th is down a fourth? Confusing, right? The note G is down 5 half-steps from C, but up 7 half-steps from C:
5th
GRoot
C1
2
3
4
5
6
The Inversions of C Major
Root Position
Root
C3rd
E5th
GE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
E
G
1st Inversion
3rd
E5th
GRoot
CE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
E
G
C
2nd Inversion
5th
GRoot
C3rd
EE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
G
C
E