Modify the C Shape
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that by knowing the scale shape behind the C shape chord, we’d be able to modify the chord at will without memorizing a dictionary’s worth of chord diagrams. This page is all about showing you how that works.
Below, I’ve assembled a list of useful chord variations based on the C shape beyond C major and C minor. This is not a complete list, but it is probably most of the chords you will need for now. There’s a PDF with all of the shapes on one page at the end of the article.
If you find it easy to memorize the shapes, you can certainly do that. But you can also simply memorize the scale shape and then modify the chord as you see fit after learning the intervals of each chord type.
One last thing. Here’s the C shape major scale again. Refer back to it with each chord shape to see how it fits into the scale shape. Thinking of chords as being built directly from scales is a core element to understanding CAGED and getting to know your fretboard.
5 Chord (Power Chord)
A 5 chord is a simplification of a major chord. You make it by getting rid of the major third (3) and leaving only the root (1) and the perfect fifth (5). You are left with a chord that is neither major nor minor. It’s ambiguous, but it’s also powerful – which is why you will sometimes hear it called a power chord.
These simple chords are popular on guitar for all genres of rock music because they are easy to play and sound pretty wicked with a bit of distortion.
To play a C shape 5 chord, play your standard C shape and but shift your ring finger onto the E string and place you pinky next to it on the A string.
You can make the 5 chord shape easier to play by leaving out the G string. Instead of barring across all four strings, just fret the C string with your index finger:
Maj7 Chord
A major 7th chord is made of the root (1), the major third (3), the perfect fifth (5), and the major seventh (7) intervals. Major seventh chords are sort of “more” major than a regular major chord. They are bright and very complete sounding.
The major seventh is always one fret down from the root, so the easiest way to play a C shape Maj7 is to place your middle finger one fret behind where you usually place your ring finger when playing a major chord. You can also just use your ring finger, but I find this a bit cramped.
Dominant 7 Chord
The dominant seventh chord, usually known simply as a 7 chord, is made up of the root (1), the major third (3), the perfect fifth (5), and the flatted seventh (b7) interval. Dominant 7 chords have just a touch of dissonance to them, enough to make them interesting. They are a fundamental building block of blues music, and they are common in rock music, which grew out of the blues.
Barre across all four strings with your index finger, and then tuck your middle finger on the next fret up on the A string.
sus2 and sus4 Chords
Suspended chords (usually just called “sus”) come in two varieties, the sus2 and sus4. You make both by suspending (getting rid of) the major third (3) of the usual major triad and replacing it with either the major second (2) or the perfect fourth (4). Both chords have their own distinct “open” sound.
A sus2 chord is made of the root (1), the major second (2), and the perfect fifth (5):
You form this chord by placing your index finger on the G string, your middle finger two frets up on the C string, and your ring and pinky fingers next to each other one fret up on the C and A strings.
You can simplify the shape by leaving out the G string. The full sus2 triad can be found on just the CEA strings.
A sus4 chord is made of the root (1), the perfect fourth (4), and the perfect fifth (5):
You form the full chord shape by playing a standard C shape major chord and then placing your middle finger on the E string, one fret from up from the barre. It might also be more comfortable to play the shape with your pinky on the A string.
You can simplify the shape by leaving out the A string. The full sus4 triad can be found on just the GCE strings.
add9 Chord
An add9 chord can be hard to wrap your head around, so stick with me on the explanation for a minute. An add9 includes the root (1), the major second (2), the major third (3), and the perfect fifth (5). So it’s a sus2 chord, except you don’t suspend the the major third.
HOWEVER, if you play the root, major second, and major third all right next to each other, the sound can be a bit muddled. So you usually tack the major second on to the top of the chord in the next octave of the scale, making it the major ninth (9) because it falls after the second instance of the root (8). “Add9” refers to the fact that you are taking a regular major chord and…adding the ninth. Complicated stuff.
Okay, so that makes sense on a piano where, so long as your hand is big enough, you can always stretch up and add a higher note to a chord. But on instruments like a uke and a guitar, it’s not always practical or possible to reach up into the next octave to grab the ninth.
So the rule for uke (and guitar) is that you make add9 chords by putting the ninth wherever you can – but be aware that some combinations won’t sound as good if the notes are too close together in pitch. Here’s what that looks like for the C shape.
The sound of the chord is really cool. You get the open, airy sound of the sus2 while keeping the full sound of the regular major chord. This is a very popular chord type on guitar with songwriters because the Cadd9 chord sounds great and is actually easier to switch to at times compared to the regular C major.
Form the chord by playing a normal moveable C shape with an index finger barre and your ring finger three frets up on the A string. Then grab the ninth with your middle finger two frets up from the barre on the C string. If you struggle with the barre, you can also play this as a 1-3-9 triad with just the top CEA strings.
Augmented Chord
Augmented (aug) chords are made using the root (1), the major third (3), and the sharp five (#5). They have a tense, dissonant sound, and they are mainly used as transition chords, good for adding an accent while moving between chords or to transition from one key to another mid-song.
Form the shape by playing a C major shape but with your pinky on the A string. Then stretch your middle finger across to grab the G string, one fret up from the barre.
You can simplify the shape by leaving out the A string. The full sugmented triad can be found on the GCE strings.
Wrap Up
I’ve combined all of these chord shapes as well as the parents scale diagram on a downloadable PDF for quick reference. Click the download button if the embedded PDF doesn’t display correctly on your device.
You can play all sorts of chord progressions just by moving these shapes around the neck, but it gets even more fun when you start learning the other shapes of CAGED as well. Check back in future weeks as I continue to explore moveable chord shapes on ukulele.
Leave a comment below if you found this article useful or if you have suggestions on how to improve it. Happy picking!
The-C-Shape-CAGED-for-UkuleleThe C Shape – CAGED for Ukulele PDF Download
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