C Ukulele Chord

Here is the C chord step by step:

1. Take your ring finger (finger 3) and press down on the 3rd fret of the A string, the string closest to the floor.
2. Leave the g, C and E strings open. Do not touch them.
3. Strum all four strings.

That is a clean C major. Trust me, if you have just picked up a ukulele this is the perfect first chord to learn, most people get it on the very first try. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.

The C major chord is built from three notes: C, E and G (the root, the major third and the perfect fifth). On the ukulele you actually play g, C, E and C, so the C is doubled and you get that lovely full, happy sound. Major chords are the bright cheerful ones and C is about as bright as it gets, which is exactly why so many beginner songs are built around it. Curious which chords sit together in a song? See which chords share a key.

Once C feels comfortable, its close relatives are only a finger away: try C7, Cmaj7, Cm and Csus4. The chords you will most often play right next to C are G, Am and F, so learning those few basic chords unlocks an awful lot of songs. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster, then try some easy ukulele songs.