Chord Library › Chords in a Key
Chords in the Key of C Major
Pick a key to see every chord that belongs to it, hear each one, and play the most common chord progressions in that key.
Key / Root note
Major or minor
Chords in this key
Tap any chord to hear it. Tap View chord for full diagrams & voicings.
Common progressions
I – IV – V
The three-chord songwriter
C · F · G
I – V – vi – IV
The four chords in every pop song
C · G · Am · F
ii – V – I
The jazz turnaround
Dm · G · C
I – vi – IV – V
The 50s doo-wop
C · Am · F · G
vi – IV – I – V
Pop & ballad staple
Am · F · C · G
How to use this
Every major and minor key is built from seven chords — these are the ones that naturally sound good together. The Roman numerals (I, ii, iii…) show each chord's role, and stay the same in every key, so once you learn a progression like I – V – vi – IV you can play it anywhere just by sliding to a new key.
Want to solo over these chords? Head to the Scale Library — the major scale of your key (or its relative minor pentatonic) will fit right over the whole progression. Look up any chord's shapes in the Chord Library.