C major chordson the mandolin

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 0
2. ii Dm2 0 0 1
3. iii Em0 2 2 0
4. IV F2 3 3 1
5. V G0 0 2 3
6. vi Am2 2 3 0
7. vii° Bdim4 0 2 1

Other modes on C

Other major keys

C major in other tunings

All Mandolin GDAE chords · Printable chart (PDF) · The app