In music, what is the name of the chord consisting of C, E, and G?

In music, the chord consisting of C, E, and G is a C major chord.

These three notes form a major triad: C is the root, E is the major third, and G is the perfect fifth. The intervals above C create the bright, stable sound associated with major harmony. Because the notes are separated by four semitones from C to E and three semitones from E to G, the triad is major rather than minor.

The notes may appear in any octave or order and still represent the same harmony. For example, E-G-C is the first inversion of C major, while G-C-E is the second inversion. The chord can also include doubled notes, such as C-G-C-E, without changing its basic identity.

A common mix-up is confusing the chord with the C major scale, which contains seven notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is also the relative major of A minor and has no sharps or flats in its key signature.