Hi Zeitegeistt (and ItsMeSilly!)

You are right: the major (or minor) chord consists of a triad. In other words, three distinct notes, played all at once, that all harmonize together to create the chemistry and flavor of the chord. (jazz, blues, and other more complex chords may contain a more complex chemistry. Let's stick to the basics for right now. That is to say, a straight-up major chord.)

Sometimes these three notes are fretted notes on the guitar. Sometimes these three notes are open strings. Most times, you'll find you have a combination of both.

The C major chord consists of the notes C, E, and G.

General rule of thumb: the LOWEST sounding note you play when you play a chord, should be the chord's root, the chord's #1 note. For a C Chord, that would be the note C.

So, even though the note E exists in the C major chord, and the lowest string of the guitar, played open, is "E", you would skip over that E, and play the "C" as the Bass Note (or, lowest note) of your C Chord. That "C" note is on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.

If you look at a chord chart for C Major, you'll probably see some indication that the low E string is off limits.

Moving up the strings from your C bass note, you've got the next "E" note, which is the 4th string held at the 2nd fret. Then the "G" note, which is the 3rd string played open. Then the "C" note again (up an octave), which is the 1st fret of the 2nd string. (try this: it's a standard C chord) And finally, the high "E" note, which is the 1st string played open.

Even with all those ingredients, you end up with TWO ESSENTIAL FACTORS:

1. the lowest-sounding note you play is the root note of the chord (in this case, C)

2. All the other notes you play, whether fretted or open, are contained in the chemistry of the chord. (in this case, C, E, and G. Nothing more, nothing less.)

Does this make sense?

Keep us posted - Lisa