I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of C
The Key of C Major
The chords in the key of C major are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim.
The reference key — no sharps, no flats.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (no sharps or flats), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of C major
Each degree of the C major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | CC · E · G | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | DmD · F · A | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | EmE · G · B | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | FF · A · C | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | GG · B · D | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | AmA · C · E | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | BdimB · D · F |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in C major
C major is the key everything else gets measured against: seven notes, no accidentals, every one of them a white key on a piano. That is why method books, theory classes and children's songbooks default to it. On guitar it is slightly less generous — C, Dm, Em, G and Am all sit in open position, but the IV chord, F, is the barre that stops most beginners in their first month.
Scale
The C major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: C Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The C major key signature
No sharps, no flats
C major is written with no sharps or flats. Nothing is altered, so every note is a white key on a piano. Its relative minor, A minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in C major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into C major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of C major
- What chords are in the key of C major?
- The key of C major contains seven diatonic chords: C (I), Dm (ii), Em (iii), F (IV), G (V), Am (vi), Bdim (vii°). Most songs in C major lean on C, F and G — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of C major?
- A minor is the relative minor of C major. Both keys share the same key signature (no sharps or flats) and exactly the same seven notes — A minor simply treats A as home instead of C, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in C major to play on guitar?
- C, Dm, Em and G are the open shapes in C major — no barre required. The rest of the diatonic chords need a barre or a movable grip, so many players capo instead and use familiar open shapes from an easier key.
Learn the theory
Read up on C major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.