frets

Chords

The chords that live inside each key, organized by scale degree. Each row is a key (ordered by the circle of fifths, so adjacent rows differ by only one chord) and each column is a function within the key. Below the basic triad charts you'll find a few common extensions: seventh chords, suspensions, and slash chords (first- and second-inversion triads).

Diatonic triads — major keys

The seven triads of every major key: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°. The I, IV, and V are major; the ii, iii, and vi are minor; the vii° is diminished. These six­chord-quality patterns are constant across all twelve major keys.

I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
vii°
C
CDmEmFGAmBdim2
G
GAmBm2CDEmF#dim4
D
DEmF#m2GABm2C#dim4
A
ABm2C#m4DEF#m2Abdim6
E
EF#m2Abm4AB2C#m4Ebdim6
B
B2C#m4Ebm6EF#2Abm4Bbdim
F#
F#2Abm4BbmB2C#4Ebm6Fdim
C#
C#4Ebm6FmF#2Ab4BbmCdim
G#
Ab4BbmCm3C#4Eb6FmGdim
D#
Eb6FmGm3Ab4BbCm3Ddim
A#
BbCm3DmEb6FGm3Adim
F
FGm3AmBbCDmEdim

Diatonic triads — minor keys

The seven triads of every natural minor key: i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, VII. Minor keys are darker because the i chord is minor and the dominant (v) is also minor rather than major.

i
ii°
III
iv
v
VI
VII
Am
AmBdim2CDmEmFG
Em
EmF#dim4GAmBm2CD
Bm
Bm2C#dim4DEmF#m2GA
F#m
F#m2Abdim6ABm2C#m4DE
C#m
C#m4Ebdim6EF#m2Abm4AB2
G#m
Abm4BbdimB2C#m4Ebm6EF#2
D#m
Ebm6FdimF#2Abm4BbmB2C#4
A#m
BbmCdimC#4Ebm6FmF#2Ab4
Fm
FmGdimAb4BbmCm3C#4Eb6
Cm
Cm3DdimEb6FmGm3Ab4Bb
Gm
Gm3AdimBbCm3DmEb6F
Dm
DmEdimFGm3AmBbC

Diatonic seventh chords

Add a 7th to each triad and the chord palette becomes richer: every triad grows a fourth note that sits a 3rd above its 5th. The qualities for a major key are Imaj7, ii7, iii7, IVmaj7, V7, vi7, vii⌀7 (half-diminished). These are the bedrock of jazz, soul, and any style with more harmonic color than three-note triads provide. The V7 in particular has a strong pull back to the I and is the engine of most chord progressions in tonal music.

Imaj7
ii7
iii7
IVmaj7
V7
vi7
vii⌀7
C
Cmaj7Dm7Em7Fmaj7G7Am7Bm7b5
G
Gmaj7Am7Bm7Cmaj7D7Em7F#m7b5
D
Dmaj7Em7F#m7Gmaj7A7Bm7C#m7b54
A
Amaj7Bm7C#m74Dmaj7E7F#m7G#m7b5
E
Emaj7F#m7G#m74Amaj7B7C#m74D#m7b5
B
Bmaj7C#m74D#m7Emaj7F#7G#m74A#m7b5
F#
F#maj7G#m74A#m7Bmaj7C#7D#m7Fm7b5
C#
C#maj7D#m7Fm7F#maj7G#7A#m7Cm7b5
G#
G#maj74A#m7Cm7C#maj7D#7Fm7Gm7b5
D#
D#maj7Fm7Gm73G#maj74A#7Cm7Dm7b5
A#
A#maj7Cm7Dm7D#maj7F7Gm73Am7b5
F
Fmaj7Gm73Am7A#maj7C7Dm7Em7b5

Suspended chords

A sus chord replaces the 3rd of a triad with either a 2 (sus2) or a 4 (sus4). With no 3rd, the chord sounds neither major nor minor — tonally suspended, hence the name. Most often you'll see sus chords built on the I, IV, and V of a major key; the others can clash with the diatonic scale. Sus chords most often resolve back to the regular triad they came from (Csus4 → C), which gives a satisfying release of tension. Common in folk, pop, and almost every genre that uses acoustic guitar.

Isus2
Isus4
IVsus2
IVsus4
Vsus2
Vsus4
C
Csus2Csus4Fsus2Fsus4Gsus2Gsus4
G
Gsus2Gsus4Csus2Csus4Dsus2Dsus4
D
Dsus2Dsus4Gsus2Gsus4Asus2Asus4
A
Asus2Asus4Dsus2Dsus4Esus22Esus4
E
Esus22Esus4Asus2Asus4Bsus2Bsus42
B
Bsus2Bsus42Esus22Esus4F#sus2F#sus4
F#
F#sus2F#sus4Bsus2Bsus42C#sus24C#sus4
C#
C#sus24C#sus4F#sus2F#sus4G#sus2G#sus4
G#
G#sus2G#sus4C#sus24C#sus4D#sus2D#sus4
D#
D#sus2D#sus4G#sus2G#sus4A#sus2A#sus4
A#
A#sus2A#sus4D#sus2D#sus4Fsus2Fsus4
F
Fsus2Fsus4A#sus2A#sus4Csus2Csus4