Piano chords
Pick the root note and the chord type to see it on the keyboard, hear it and learn its inversions.
Root note
Chord type
More chord types (13)
Formula:
Inversions
Found in the keys of
Chord types
| Type | Symbol in C | Formula | Notes in C |
|---|---|---|---|
| major | C | 1 3 5 | C E G |
| minor | Cm | 1 ♭3 5 | C E♭ G |
| dominant seventh | C7 | 1 3 5 ♭7 | C E G B♭ |
| major seventh | Cmaj7 | 1 3 5 7 | C E G B |
| minor seventh | Cm7 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 | C E♭ G B♭ |
| suspended second | Csus2 | 1 2 5 | C D G |
| suspended fourth | Csus4 | 1 4 5 | C F G |
| diminished | C° | 1 ♭3 ♭5 | C E♭ G♭ |
| half-diminished | Cm7(♭5) | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7 | C E♭ G♭ B♭ |
| diminished seventh | C°7 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7 | C E♭ G♭ B♭♭ |
| augmented | C+ | 1 3 ♯5 | C E G♯ |
| sixth | C6 | 1 3 5 6 | C E G A |
| minor sixth | Cm6 | 1 ♭3 5 6 | C E♭ G A |
| add nine | Cadd9 | 1 3 5 9 | C E G D |
| ninth | C9 | 1 3 5 ♭7 9 | C E G B♭ D |
| minor ninth | Cm9 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9 | C E♭ G B♭ D |
| major ninth | Cmaj9 | 1 3 5 7 9 | C E G B D |
| seventh, suspended fourth | C7sus4 | 1 4 5 ♭7 | C F G B♭ |
| power chord | C5 | 1 5 | C G |
Chord types
major:
minor:
dominant seventh:
major seventh:
minor seventh:
diminished:
How to use it
- 1
Choose the root note, like C, F♯ or B♭.
- 2
Choose the chord type: major, minor, seventh, diminished and more.
- 3
See the notes on the keyboard, hear the chord and try each inversion.
What people use it for
- Reading chord charts
Turn a chord symbol into the keys to press.
- Learning songs
Look up the chords of a song one by one.
- Composing
Hear richer chords like maj7, m9 or sus4 before using them.
- Studying harmony
See the formula of each chord and how it is built.
Common questions
What notes are in a C major chord?
C, E and G: the root, the major third and the fifth (formula 1 3 5). Pick any other root to see its notes.
What is the difference between major and minor?
Only the third changes. In a minor chord the third is one half step lower (formula 1 ♭3 5), which gives the darker sound.
What is an inversion?
It is the same chord with another note at the bottom. C major in first inversion is E G C, and in second inversion G C E.
What does C7 mean?
It is the dominant seventh chord: C major with a minor seventh added (C E G B♭). It sounds like it wants to move to F.