Piano Chord Chart
Interactive piano chord diagrams for all 12 keys. Choose a root note and chord type to see exactly which keys to press.
All Major Chords (All 12 Keys)
Every Major chord with the notes listed. Click a row to switch root note.
| Chord | Root | 3rd | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | E | G |
| Db | Db | F | Ab |
| D | D | F# | A |
| Eb | Eb | G | Bb |
| E | E | G# | B |
| F | F | A | C |
| F# | F# | A# | C# |
| G | G | B | D |
| Ab | Ab | C | Eb |
| A | A | C# | E |
| Bb | Bb | D | F |
| B | B | D# | F# |
Chord Types Reference
All 16 chord types in C. Click any row to switch to that chord type.
| Chord | Name | Notes (C root) |
|---|---|---|
| C | Major | C - E - G |
| Cm | Minor | C - D# - G |
| Cmaj7 | Major 7th | C - E - G - B |
| C7 | Dominant 7th | C - E - G - A# |
| Cm7 | Minor 7th | C - D# - G - A# |
| Csus2 | Sus2 | C - D - G |
| Csus4 | Sus4 | C - F - G |
| Cdim | Diminished | C - D# - F# |
| Caug | Augmented | C - E - G# |
| Cm7b5 | Minor 7b5 | C - D# - F# - A# |
| Cadd9 | Add9 | C - E - G - D |
| Cm9 | Minor 9 | C - D# - G - A# - D |
| Cmaj9 | Major 9 | C - E - G - B - D |
| C6 | 6th | C - E - G - A |
| Cm6 | Minor 6th | C - D# - G - A |
| Cdim7 | Diminished 7th | C - D# - F# - A |
How to Read Piano Chord Diagrams
Green = Play This Key
Bright green keys are the chord tones you press simultaneously. Dark green is the root note. White and black keys not highlighted are not played.
Count Semitones
Each adjacent key (white or black) is one semitone. A major chord skips: root, then 4 semitones up (3rd), then 3 more semitones (5th). Use the formula shown below the keyboard.
Inversions
You can play chord notes in any order or octave. A C major chord (C-E-G) sounds the same whether you play C at the bottom or G at the bottom - these are called inversions.
Piano Chords by Genre
Which chord types are most common in each genre?
| Genre | Most Used Chords |
|---|---|
| Pop | Major, Minor, Sus2, Sus4 |
| Hip-Hop / R&B | Minor 7, Major 7, 9th |
| Jazz | Major 7, Minor 7, Dom 7, m7b5 |
| Lo-Fi | Major 7, Minor 7, 6th, Add9 |
| House / EDM | Minor, Minor 7, Sus2 |
| Rock / Metal | Major, Power (root+5), Sus4 |
| Gospel / Soul | Major 7, Dom 7, 9th, Add9 |
| Classical / Film | Major, Minor, Dim, Aug |
Piano Chord Tips for Producers
Voicing Matters More Than Notes
The same chord sounds completely different depending on which octave you place each note. Try spreading chord tones across 2-3 octaves for a lush piano sound instead of playing all notes in one octave.
Use Inversions for Smooth Voice Leading
Instead of jumping between root position chords (all notes moving a lot), use inversions to keep one or two notes stationary while the others move. This creates smoother, more professional transitions.
Add Extensions for Color
A basic C major chord (C-E-G) becomes much richer with Cmaj9 (C-E-G-B-D). In production, extensions like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths add harmonic depth without clashing. Add them in the upper register.
Identify the Key First
Before playing chords, use BeatKey to detect the key of your reference track or sample. Once you know the key, you can pull up the diatonic chord chart and know exactly which chords fit together naturally.
Major 7 is the Lo-Fi Staple
The Fmaj7 chord (F-A-C-E) is the cornerstone of lo-fi hip-hop. Major 7 chords have a warm, nostalgic quality that sits perfectly under samples and boom-bap drums. Try Cmaj7, Fmaj7, and Gmaj7 as a starting loop.
Sus Chords Add Movement
Sus2 (root-2-5) and Sus4 (root-4-5) chords create tension and movement because they do not have a third. They naturally resolve to major or minor. Try playing: Csus4 to C, or Asus2 to Am for an opening riff.
Detect Chords in Any Song
Now that you know the shapes, use BeatKey Chord Finder to detect which chords are being played in any audio file. Upload a song, stem, or sample and get the chord progression instantly.