Key of C major

Key signature: no sharps or flats. Scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Chords: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim.

Chords in C major

Each scale degree has a triad and a four-note seventh chord. Tap a chord for the guitar shape.

Capo tip: on guitar, put a capo on fret 5 and play the shapes of G major – then 4 of the main chords are easy open shapes (3 without a capo).

CIDiiEiiiFIVGVAviBvii°

Progression	Chords	Generator
Pop progression (Axis)	C – G – Am – F	Open in generator
Sensitive pop (vi–IV–I–V)	Am – F – C – G	Open in generator
’50s progression (doo-wop)	C – Am – F – G	Open in generator
Royal road (J-pop)	Fmaj7 – G7 – Em7 – Am7	Open in generator
Canon progression	C – G – Am – Em – F – C – F – G	Open in generator
Circle-of-fifths progression	C – F – Bdim – Em – Am – Dm – G – C	Open in generator
Authentic cadence (I–IV–V–I)	C – F – G – C	Open in generator
Folk and country	C – C – F – C – C – F – G – C	Open in generator
ii–V–I (jazz)	Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7	Open in generator
Turnaround (I–vi–ii–V)	Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7	Open in generator
12-bar blues	C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7	Open in generator
12-bar blues, quick change	C7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7	Open in generator
Three-chord punk	C5 – C5 – F5 – G5	Open in generator
Mixolydian rock (I–♭VII–IV)	C – B♭ – F – C	Open in generator
♭VI–♭VII–I (victory cadence)	C – A♭ – B♭ – C	Open in generator
Major-to-minor IV (I–iii–IV–iv)	C – Em – F – Fm	Open in generator