Chords in the key of C major
The key of C major has no sharps or flats. Its seven chords are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
The primary chords of C major are C (I), F (IV) and G (V); between them they hold every note of the scale. Am (vi) is the most-used minor chord, and Dm (ii) the most common way to set up G.
Key signature
C major has no sharps or flats. It sits at the top of the circle of fifths, between F major (one flat) and G major (one sharp).
The notes of the key are the C major scale: C D E F G A B. Relative minor: A minor (same notes). Parallel minor: C minor (same starting note).
Progressions in C major
Press play to hear I–V–vi–IV in C major, then use the key menu to move it.
In C major, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- IC
- VG
- viAm
- IVF
| Progression | In C major | |
|---|---|---|
| I–V–vi–IV the pop progression | C – G – Am – F | |
| I–IV–V the three-chord progression | C – F – G – C | |
| I–vi–IV–V the 50s progression | C – Am – F – G | |
| ii–V–I the jazz cadence | Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7 | |
| vi–IV–I–V the minor-feel pop loop | Am – F – C – G | |
| I–IV–vi–V the lift | C – F – Am – G | |
| I–vi–ii–V the turnaround | C – Am – Dm – G | |
| I–iii–IV–V the stepwise climb | C – Em – F – G | |
| I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V the Canon progression | C – G – Am – Em – F – C – F – G | |
| I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) the 12-bar blues | C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7 |
Borrowed dominants: leaning into other chords of C major
A secondary dominant is the dominant seventh chord a fifth above any chord of the key. Play it just before that chord and the arrival sounds stronger, as if the song briefly changed key.
- V7 of ii
- V7 of iii
- V7 of IV
- V7 of V
- V7 of vi
Chords borrowed from the parallel key
Major-key songs often darken for a moment by taking chords from C minor: Fm (iv), A♭ (♭VI), B♭ (♭VII) and E♭ (♭III). The minor iv (Fm) is the classic bittersweet move before returning to C.
Seventh chords in C major
The C major seventh chords: Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7 and Bm7♭5. G7 is the only dominant seventh, which is why it pulls so strongly to C.
Playing in C major on guitar
C major is one of the open-chord keys: C, Dm, Em, G and Am all use open strings, and only F and Bdim need a barre or a partial barre.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of C major: questions
What chords are in the key of C major?
C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim. As numerals: I = C, ii = Dm, iii = Em, IV = F, V = G, vi = Am, vii° = Bdim.
How many sharps or flats are in C major?
No sharps or flats.
What is the relative minor of C major?
A minor. Same notes, same signature, a different home chord (Am).
What are the I, IV and V chords in C major?
C (I), F (IV) and G (V).
How do I play in C major on guitar with a capo?
You don't need one: C major uses open chord shapes directly.
Chord spellings follow the key signature of C major; all of them are checked automatically. Updated September 2026.