Piano chords

These are the most common piano chords in root position: major, minor and seventh chords in all twelve keys. Each chord shows its notes, where they sit on the keyboard and which fingers to use.

How to play a chord

Find the root – it gives the chord its name.
Major chord: add the note four semitones up, then three more. Minor chord: three semitones first, then four.
Seventh chord (7): add the note three semitones above the fifth.
Play all notes together, keep your hand relaxed and your fingers curved.

Fingers: 1 = thumb, 5 = little finger.

Major chords

C

Notes: C – E – G
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

C#

Notes: C# – F – G#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

D

Notes: D – F# – A
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

D#

Notes: D# – G – A#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

E

Notes: E – G# – B
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

F

Notes: F – A – C
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

F#

Notes: F# – A# – C#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

G

Notes: G – B – D
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

G#

Notes: G# – C – D#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

A

Notes: A – C# – E
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

A#

Notes: A# – D – F
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

B

Notes: B – D# – F#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Minor chords

Cm

Notes: C – D# – G
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

C#m

Notes: C# – E – G#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Dm

Notes: D – F – A
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

D#m

Notes: D# – F# – A#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Em

Notes: E – G – B
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Fm

Notes: F – G# – C
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

F#m

Notes: F# – A – C#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Gm

Notes: G – A# – D
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

G#m

Notes: G# – B – D#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Am

Notes: A – C – E
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

A#m

Notes: A# – C# – F
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Bm

Notes: B – D – F#
Right hand: 1 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 1

Seventh chords

C7

Notes: C – E – G – A#
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

C#7

Notes: C# – F – G# – B
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

D7

Notes: D – F# – A – C
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

D#7

Notes: D# – G – A# – C#
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

E7

Notes: E – G# – B – D
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

F7

Notes: F – A – C – D#
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

F#7

Notes: F# – A# – C# – E
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

G7

Notes: G – B – D – F
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

G#7

Notes: G# – C – D# – F#
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

A7

Notes: A – C# – E – G
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

A#7

Notes: A# – D – F – G#
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

B7

Notes: B – D# – F# – A
Right hand: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Left hand: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

Practise these chords with your MIDI keyboard

The app recognises what you play and shows right away whether the chord is correct.

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