Chords in the Key of C Major

The key of C major has 7 chords: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and B°. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

C major: no sharps or flats

Scale: C D E F G A B · Relative minor: A minor

The 7 chords in the key of C major. Press a chord to hear it.
Roman	Nashville	Function
I	1	tonic
ii	2m	predominant
iii	3m	tonic or dominant
IV	4	predominant
V	5	dominant
vi	6m	tonic
vii°	7°	dominant

Common progressions in C major

I–IV–V–IC F G C
I–V–vi–IVC G Am F
vi–IV–I–VAm F C G
I–vi–IV–VC Am F G
ii–V–IDm7 G7 Cmaj7
I–IV–vi–VC F Am G
I–iii–IV–ivC Em F Fm
I–♭VII–IV–IC B♭ F C
12-bar bluesC7 C7 C7 C7 F7 F7 C7 C7 G7 F7 C7 G7
I–vi–ii–VC Am Dm G
I–IV–I–VC F C G
IV–V–iii–viF G Em Am

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Guitar chords in C major

C I · x32010
Dm ii · xx0231
Em iii · 022000
F IV · 133211
G V · 320003
Am vi · x02210
B° vii° · x20x01

Key signature and scale

C major has no sharps or flats. The C major scale is C – D – E – F – G – A – B.

Its relative minor is A minor: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are G major (one more sharp or one less flat) and F major (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in C major

Progression	In C major
I–IV–V–I	C F G C
I–V–vi–IV	C G Am F
vi–IV–I–V	Am F C G
I–vi–IV–V	C Am F G

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of C major?

The seven chords are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and B° (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°).

How many sharps or flats does C major have?

C major has no sharps or flats. Its scale is C D E F G A B.

What is the relative minor of C major?

A minor. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in C major are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are C, F, G, Am. With a capo on fret 5 you can play G shapes instead: G, C, D, Em, and it still sounds in C major.

What is the V chord in C major?

G (or G7 as a 7th chord). It pulls strongly back to C.

Last updated: October 12, 2026