Find the chords in any of the 24 major and minor keys

The chords in a major and a minor key

In a major key the degrees are always I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi and vii°: three major chords, three minor and one diminished. In C major they are C major, D minor, E minor, F major, G major, A minor and B diminished.

In a minor key (natural minor) the order is i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI and VII; in A minor: A minor, B diminished, C major, D minor, E minor, F major and G major. Since the dominant is usually played major in minor keys, the page adds the V and vii° of the harmonic minor: E major and G♯ diminished in A minor.

“Seventh chords” turns the same degrees into seventh chords: Imaj7, ii7, iii7, IVmaj7, V7, vi7 and viiø7 in major. Each degree also has its function:

• I, tonic: the chord of rest, the one that gives the key its name.
• ii, supertonic: often prepares the dominant, as in ii–V–I.
• iii, mediant: shares two notes with the tonic.
• IV, subdominant: moves away from the tonic with less tension than the dominant.
• V, dominant: the tension that wants to return to the tonic.
• vi, submediant: the relative minor, often used in place of the tonic.
• vii°, leading tone: the diminished chord, which also leads back to the tonic.

Borrowed chords, secondary dominants and modulation

• Borrowed chords: chords taken from the parallel key: in C major, F minor (iv), B♭ major (♭VII), A♭ major (♭VI) and D diminished (ii°), with an example progression written in that key. In a minor key, the major IV and I of the parallel major.
• Secondary dominants: the seventh chord that leads to each degree. In C major: A7 goes to D minor, B7 to E minor, C7 to F, D7 to G and E7 to A minor.
• Modulation: the three neighboring keys: a fifth up, a fifth down and the relative key. The first two share 6 of their 7 notes with yours, and the relative key shares all 7.
• Modes: the 7 modes built from its notes, with their whole-step and half-step formulas. “Play the mode” plays them and “Show on the fretboard and piano” opens them on the guitar modes page.

The circle of fifths as a map of keys

The circle puts the 12 major keys in order of fifths: going clockwise, each one adds a sharp to the key signature, and going counterclockwise, a flat. When you pick one you see its key signature, the 7 notes of its scale and why the new sharp or flat appears. “Show minor keys” shows its relative minor underneath, which shares the key signature.

“Learn” has 5 guided steps around the circle and a 4-question quiz; “Autoplay” walks through them on its own, playing each key. And “Search for a key” understands keys (“G major”, “Am”), chords (“F#m” tells you which keys contain it) and key signatures (“2 sharps”).

Frequently asked questions