Learn › C Major Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
New Released in April 2026
C Major Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
C triad inversions on guitar: the three notes C, E and G on three neighbouring strings, in three positions on each of four string sets. Twelve small shapes that cover the whole neck.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
What an inversion changes
Root position puts C at the bottom, 1st inversion puts E at the bottom, 2nd inversion puts G at the bottom. It is still C; what changes is the lowest and the highest note you hear.
Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.
Where C sits on the neck
Each row uses three neighbouring strings and climbs the neck from the lowest shape to the highest. Mute or skip the other strings.
G-B-e strings
2nd inversion
Root position
1st inversion
D-G-B strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
A-D-G strings
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
E-A-D strings
2nd inversion
Root position
1st inversion
Connecting the inversions
Climbing the G-B-e strings: 2nd inversion (fret 1) → root position (fret 5) → 1st inversion (fret 9). Listen to the top note, E, G, C: it is a little melody inside one chord.
One area of the neck, near fret 7, already holds four C shapes: G-B-e strings 5-5-3; D-G-B strings 5-5-5; A-D-G strings 7-5-5; E-A-D strings 8-7-5.
Fret chart for C triads
| String set | Root position | 1st inversion | 2nd inversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-B-e strings | x x x 5 5 3 | x x x 9 8 8 | x x x 0 1 0 |
| D-G-B strings | x x 10 9 8 x | x x 2 0 1 x | x x 5 5 5 x |
| A-D-G strings | x 3 2 0 x x | x 7 5 5 x x | x 10 10 9 x x |
| E-A-D strings | 8 7 5 x x x | 12 10 10 x x x | 3 3 2 x x x |
Frets from the low E string to the high E string; x = string not played.
A short C triad routine
- Learn the three shapes on the top strings first, slowly, saying the bottom note each time.
- Connect the shapes up and down the G-B-e strings, four strums per shape.
- Stay near fret 7 and find C on two different string sets.
- Then test yourself: random chord names, find the closest C shape each time.
A few minutes a day on one string set is enough; add the next set next week.
Train chord changes on your guitar
ChordRunner listens to your guitar through the microphone: a chord name appears, you play it in any shape, and the game hears if the notes are right. A MIDI keyboard works too.
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play C triads on the top strings?
On the G, B and high E strings: 2nd inversion 0-1-0; Root position 5-5-3; 1st inversion 9-8-8. Play only those three strings.
Which C triad shape is the easiest?
Usually the lowest one on the top strings, 0-1-0, because it sits near the nut.
What does a C triad sound like?
Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.
Can I practise C with a game that listens to my guitar?
Yes. ChordRunner hears your guitar through the microphone and checks the chord in any shape or inversion. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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