C5 Ukulele Chord
Trying to get the C5 chord under your fingers? It is a barre shape, which feels awkward at first but is well worth learning. Your fingers go on the E and A strings. The steps below show exactly where each one sits.
A one-finger ukulele chord. The steps below show exactly where it goes.
- Notes: C and G
- Frets: 0 0 3 3
- Tuning: g C E A
C5 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Power chord (no 3rd)
- Also known as
- C power chord
- Formula
- 1 5
- Intervals
- C (root), G (perfect 5th)
- Notes
- C and G
- Frets
- 0 0 3 3
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the C5 chord
Here is the C5 chord step by step:
- Lay your index finger flat across the E and A strings at the 3rd fret, a small barre.
- Leave the g and C strings open.
- Strum all four strings.
Roll your index finger slightly onto its bony side so it presses every string evenly. Read how to play bar chords if it keeps buzzing. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
What notes are in the C5 chord?
The C5 chord is built from two notes: C and G (the root and perfect 5th). On the ukulele the G is doubled, so you get a nice full sound. With no third at all, a power chord is neither major nor minor. It is just a solid, neutral, punchy sound borrowed from rock.
Ukulele songs that use the C5 chord
- MitskiWashing Machine Heart
- CavetownDysphoric
- Misc MusicalsFreeze Your Brain
- Cardi BWAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
- Misc Soundtracks30/90 (from tick, tick… BOOM!)
- SWVWeak
- Eddie VedderWithout You
- Will Wood2econd-2ight-2eer (that was fun, goodbye.)
- Misc MusicalsDead Girl Walking (Heathers)
- Smoothboi EzraThinking Of You
- Arctic MonkeysOld Yellow Bricks
- Sushi SoucyRock in God’s Shoe
- FrnkIero AndThe CellabrationJoyriding
- AURORAApple Tree
- Will WoodJimmy Mushrooms’ Last Drink: Bedtime in Wayne, NJ (and The Tapeworms)
- Queens of the Stone AgeThe Flow
- MICOHOMESICK
- Jordy SearcyWhy Can’t We Be Friends?
- Audrey HobertShooting star
- Trace AdkinsLadies Love Country Boys
Want to go further?
Once C5 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try C7, Cmaj7, Cm and C. Power chords are a rock staple and slide easily up and down the neck. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.