Chords in a key (diatonic chords)
The chords in a key are the chords built from the notes of its scale, stacking thirds on each note. In a major key the pattern is always I – ii – iii – IV – V – vi – vii°: in C major, C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, and B°. In the natural minor it is i – ii° – III – iv – v – VI – VII (in A minor: Am, B°, C, Dm, Em, F, and G); in practice the V and vii° come from the harmonic minor scale.
Circle of fifths
Clockwise, each step goes up a fifth and adds a sharp; counter-clockwise, a flat. The relative minors are on the inside. Tap a key to see its chords.
Major keys: the chords in all 12
| Key · Key signature | Chords |
|---|---|
| C major no sharps or flats | CDmEmFGAmB° |
| D flat major 5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭) | D♭E♭mFmG♭A♭B♭mC° |
| D major 2 sharps (F♯, C♯) | DEmF♯mGABmC♯° |
| E flat major 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭) | E♭FmGmA♭B♭CmD° |
| E major 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯) | EF♯mG♯mABC♯mD♯° |
| F major 1 flat (B♭) | FGmAmB♭CDmE° |
| F sharp major 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯) | F♯G♯mA♯mBC♯D♯mE♯° |
| G major 1 sharp (F♯) | GAmBmCDEmF♯° |
| A flat major 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭) | A♭B♭mCmD♭E♭FmG° |
| A major 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) | ABmC♯mDEF♯mG♯° |
| B flat major 2 flats (B♭, E♭) | B♭CmDmE♭FGmA° |
| B major 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯) | BC♯mD♯mEF♯G♯mA♯° |
Minor keys: the chords in all 12
In the minor keys the V and vii° already come from the harmonic minor scale, as they are played in practice.
| Key · Key signature | Chords |
|---|---|
| C minor 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭) | CmD°E♭FmGA♭B° |
| C sharp minor 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯) | C♯mD♯°EF♯mG♯AB♯° |
| D minor 1 flat (B♭) | DmE°FGmAB♭C♯° |
| D sharp minor 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯) | D♯mE♯°F♯G♯mA♯BC𝄪° |
| E minor 1 sharp (F♯) | EmF♯°GAmBCD♯° |
| F minor 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭) | FmG°A♭B♭mCD♭E° |
| F sharp minor 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) | F♯mG♯°ABmC♯DE♯° |
| G minor 2 flats (B♭, E♭) | GmA°B♭CmDE♭F♯° |
| G sharp minor 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯) | G♯mA♯°BC♯mD♯EF𝄪° |
| A minor no sharps or flats | AmB°CDmEFG♯° |
| B flat minor 5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭) | B♭mC°D♭E♭mFG♭A° |
| B minor 2 sharps (F♯, C♯) | BmC♯°DEmF♯GA♯° |
How to build the chords of a key
- Write the seven notes of the key's scale (C major: C D E F G A B).
- On each note, add the third and the fifth by skipping one note of the scale: C-E-G, D-F-A, E-G-B…
- Check each chord's quality: major third and perfect fifth = major; minor third = minor; minor third and diminished fifth = diminished.
- For seventh chords, add the seventh as well (skip one more note): C-E-G-B = Cmaj7.
Tonic, subdominant and dominant
Each chord has a function. Tonic chords (I, iii, and vi) feel at rest; subdominant chords (ii and IV) move away from home; dominant chords (V and vii°) build the tension that wants to resolve home. That is why V–I ends a song.
Frequently asked questions
What are the chords in a key?
They are the chords that belong to the key: one chord on each note of the scale, made only of notes from that scale. Most songs use mainly the chords of their key.
What is the chord pattern of a major key?
I – ii – iii – IV – V – vi – vii°. In C major: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, and B°. The pattern is the same in all 12 major keys; only the notes change.
What is the chord pattern of a minor key?
In the natural minor: i – ii° – III – iv – v – VI – VII. Because a minor v has little pull, songs in minor keys usually use the major V (or V7) from the harmonic minor scale.
How do I find the key of a song?
Look at the chords: the key is the one whose chords include almost all of them, and the song usually starts and ends on the I chord. The chord transposer works out the key from the chords for you.