How to play C (C Major) on Ukulele
Diagram, notes, and audio for the C chord on ukulele. Free in your browser.
About C on ukulele
C major on the ukulele is the easiest one-finger chord on any fretted instrument. Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string (the bottom string, closest to the floor) and strum all four strings. Open G, open C, open E, plus the fretted C — all four chord tones of C major ring out at once. It is the very first chord every uke teacher introduces.
On a standard re-entrant tuned ukulele (G-C-E-A high-G), the open G is actually higher in pitch than the C and E below it. This gives the ukulele its signature sparkle: the highest-sounding string is the third one down, not the bottom, so a basic C strum sounds chiming and bell-like rather than bass-heavy. C major exploits this perfectly.
Common ukulele songs in C include Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Iz's iconic Hawaiian arrangement), Riptide, and most beginner method-book material. The four-chord cycle C-Am-F-G covers the I-vi-IV-V of C major and unlocks a huge chunk of the pop canon on the uke. Because C major requires only one finger, beginners can spend their first practice session focused entirely on strum patterns rather than chord shapes.
Frequently asked questions
- Which finger should I use for C major on ukulele?
- Most teachers recommend the ring finger so your index and middle stay free for chord changes. Beginners sometimes start with the index finger, which is fine — switch as you build flexibility.
- Why does C major sound so cheerful on the ukulele?
- Three of the four strings are open and ring as part of the chord. The re-entrant high G adds a sparkle on top that you don't get from a guitar's bass-heavy C.
- What chords pair well with C major on ukulele?
- F, G, and Am — the IV, V, and vi of C major. Together with C they form the most-used four-chord pop cycle.
Switch instruments
See C on a different instrument — same chord, new diagram.