C5 Chord

The C5 chord is a power chord built on the root note C. Its notes are C and G.

Power chords have no third at all, only a root and a fifth, so they are neither major nor minor. That emptiness is the point: run one through a distorted amp and it stays clean and thick where a full triad would turn to mud.

Root

Quality

C5 on piano

Inversion:

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To play C5 on piano, place your right-hand thumb on C, middle finger on G, and little finger on G. Press all keys at the same time and listen for a clear, balanced sound. Practice switching to and from this chord slowly, then with a metronome at a comfortable tempo.

C5 on guitar

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Intermediate

Open

On guitar, C5 is commonly played with the voicing shown above. If the chord contains barred notes, keep your index finger flat across the fretboard and curve the other fingers so they don't mute the open strings. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram for the cleanest tone.

Play the chord

C · G

C5 chord notes

Formula: 1 · 5Notes: C · G

Degree	Interval	Semitones	Note
1	Root	0	C
5	Perfect fifth	7	G

How to use the C5 chord

The C5 chord is built from a root and a perfect fifth. Starting from the root C, stack the intervals to get the complete chord: C and G. Learning the formula is the fastest way to transpose the chord to any other key.

Power chords are the engine of punk, metal, grunge and hard rock, played on the low strings with distortion. Guitarists move a single shape up and down the neck, which is why riffs built from them transpose so easily.

Common progressions

The C5 chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.

Pop progression

I → V → vi → IV

C G Am F

Once you are comfortable with C5, explore neighbouring chords to unlock new progressions. The chords below share notes, keys or functions with C5 and are a natural next step in your practice.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C5 chord?

The C5 chord contains C and G.

Is the C5 chord major or minor?

C5 is a power chord. Power chords have no third at all, only a root and a fifth, so they are neither major nor minor. That emptiness is the point: run one through a distorted amp and it stays clean and thick where a full triad would turn to mud.

How do you play C5 on piano?

Place your fingers on C and G and play the notes together. On piano, the root is usually played with the little finger of the left hand and the upper notes with the right hand.

How do you play C5 on guitar?

C5 is typically played using the fingering shown in the interactive diagram above. You can also try an open position if one of the chord tones lines up with an open string.

What chords work well with C5?

C5 pairs naturally with the chords listed in the related chords section. Chords a perfect fifth up or down, relative major or minor chords, and chords sharing two notes are all strong choices.

Keep exploring

Deepen your understanding of the C5 chord with our other music theory tools.

Browse all chords Explore scales Explore progressions Chord Transposer Chord Finder Try the Piano Open Circle of Fifths