transpose.siteChords in the key of C (C major)
Songs in C use the seven notes of the C major scale: C D E F G A B. The key signature has no sharps or flats. The seven chords built on these notes are the ones you will meet most in C.
Diatonic chords in C
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triad | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | Bdim |
| Seventh | Cmaj7 | Dm7 | Em7 | Fmaj7 | G7 | Am7 | Bm7(♭5) |
| Role | tonic (home) | subdominant side | tonic substitute | subdominant | dominant (tension) | tonic substitute, relative minor | dominant substitute |
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
Common progressions in C
- C – G – Am – F (I – V – vi – IV, the most common pop progression)
- C – Am – F – G (I – vi – IV – V, the '50s progression, ballads)
- Am – F – C – G (vi – IV – I – V, the same four chords with a minor feel)
- Dm – G – C (ii – V – I, the classic jazz and ballad cadence)
- C – F – G (I – IV – V, rock and blues basics)
Playing in C with a capo
C is an easy key you can play with open chords. Other ways:
- Capo on fret 3 + play A shapes (chords in A)
- Capo on fret 5 + play G shapes (chords in G)
To move a whole PDF score to an easier key, open it in the free PDF transposer: chords and TAB change together.
Relative minor: A minor
A minor (Am) uses the same seven notes as C major. If a song starts and ends on Am, it is in A minor.
Chords in A minor: i Am · ii° Bdim · III C · iv Dm · v Em · VI F · VII G (E7 is common in place of v)
- Am – F – C – G (i – VI – III – VII, minor-key rock and ballads)
- Am – Dm – Em – Am (i – iv – v – i, minor-key basics (V7 often replaces v))
- Am – G – F – G (i – VII – VI – VII, a rock riff progression)