C major chordson the Irish bouzouki, GDAD tuning

Common progressions

• I – IV – I – V: C – F – C – G (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
• I – V – I: C – G – C (polkas and simple tunes)
• I – vi – IV – V: C – Am – F – G (a B part that wanders, or a song)

Basis: DADGAD Guitar blog (2009), the Chiff & Fipple forum, and common session practice: most major-key tunes use I, IV and V; vi now and then.

The seven chords in C major

1. I C0 2 3 2
2. ii Dmx 0 0 3
3. iii Em0 2 2 2
4. IV F2 3 3 3
5. V G0 0 2 0
6. vi Am2 2 3 2
7. vii° Bdim4 0 2 3

Other modes on C

Other major keys

C major in other tunings

All Irish bouzouki GDAD chords · Printable chart (PDF) · The app