Banjo C chord (Open G)C major on the 5-string banjo: 2 0 1 2, and 2 more shapes

C chord chart for 5-string banjo in Open G tuning: 2 0 1 2, open position, with the short 5th string marked — C (C major) on the 5-string banjo, Open G: 2 0 1 2, string 4 to string 1. Fingers are numbered on the dots; copper marks the root; the green ring on the left is the 5th string, solid when it’s in the chord.

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 2 0 1 2 (open position)

String 4 (D): 2nd fret, middle finger, E
String 3 (G): open, G
String 2 (B): 1st fret, index finger, C
String 1 (D): 2nd fret, ring finger, E
String 5, the short g: open, G, in the chord

Sounds: E G C E · C is C, E, G (1 · 3 · 5)

Found in: G major (IV), C major (I), G mixolydian (IV), D mixolydian (♭VII), C mixolydian (I), G dorian (IV)

The 5th string: the short g is the 5th of C, so let it ring.

Up the neck: Barre shape: 5 5 5 5 (5fr); F shape: 10 9 8 10 (8fr); D shape: 14 12 13 14 (12fr). Slide a shape up or down to play another chord of its kind.

Open G tuning: gDGBD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.

Hear it in the app ›

The app starts in open G, so it opens on these shapes.

More C shapes

2 5 5 2
2fr · 5th string completes it
10 12 13 14
10fr

Other C chords in Open G

CCm C7 Cm7 Cmaj7 C6 Csus4 Csus2 Cdim Caug

Other major chords

G A DCB E F B♭E♭F♯C♯A♭

C in other tunings

Double C Sawmill Open D C Tuning

All Open G banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app