C Major Scale Chord Chart

Here is a piano chord chart for the C major scale. Go up the white keys of the C scale and find the 1, 3, and 5 notes of each chord and you can find if the 2,3,4, 6, and 7 scale tone chords are major, minor, or diminished.

In the C major scale, each scale tone chord from the 2nd tone, or D, 3rd tone or E, 4th tone of F, 5th tone or G, 6th tone or A, and 7th tone or B, all have white notes that make the 1-3-5 note pattern of a chord. The 1, 3 and 5 notes of a chord in the C major scale are all spaced two white keys between each other.

For D the root is D, the third is F, and the 5th is A. The 2nd tone of the C major scale or D chord is a minor chord.

From D to F is a minor 3rd one and a half steps. From F to A is a major 3rd two whole steps. This is a minor chord.

The D chord is D minor in the key of C.

For E the root is E, the third is G, and the 5th is B. The 3rd tone of the C major scale or E chord is a minor chord.

From E to G is a minor 3rd one and a half steps. From G to B is a major 3rd two whole steps.

The E chord is E minor in the key of C.

For F the root is F, the third is A, and the 5th is C. The 4th tone of the C major scale or F chord is a major chord.

From F to A is a major 3rd two whole steps. From A to C is a minor 3rd one and a half steps.

The F chord is F major in the key of C.

For G the root is G, the third is B, and the 5th is D. The 5th tone of the C major scale or G chord is a major chord.

From G to B is a major 3rd two whole steps. From B to D is a minor 3rd one and a half steps.

The G chord is G major in the key of C.

For A the root is A, the third is C, and the 5th is E. The 6th tone of the C major scale or A chord is a minor chord.

From A to C is a minor 3rd one and a half steps. From C to E is a major 3rd two whole steps.

The A chord is A minor in the key of C.

For B the root is B, the third is D, and the 5th is F. The 7th tone of the C major scale or B chord is diminished chord.

From B to D is a minor 3rd one and a half steps. From D to F is a minor 3rd one and a half steps.

The B chord is B diminished in the key of C.

In the key of C major

D, E, and A chords are minor

F, and G are major

THE MAJOR SCALE CHORDS AND PIANO CHORD CHART

The 2,3,and 6 chords are minor chords. We can show this as

ii, iii, and vi.

The 1, 4, and 5 chords are major chords. We show this as I, IV, and V.

In the key of C the 1 is C, the 4 chord is F , and the 5 chord is G.

C, F, and G make up the main chords of the key of C major.

Many songs are in the key of C major and have the C, F, and G chords in them.

THE DIMINISHED CHORD

The diminished chord has a 1, b3, and b5 note. Note that this will make a minor 3rd from both the root to the 3rd and from the 3rd to the 5th note.

C Eb Gb

From C to Eb one and a half steps a minor 3rd interval

From Eb to Gb one and a half steps a minor 3rd interval

THE B CHORD AND 7TH SCALE TONE CHORD

Note that when you play the B chord in the C major scale you have B as the root, D as the 3rd, and F as the 5th note. The 7th tone of the C major scale or B chord is a diminished chord.

From B to D is a minor 3rd

From D to F is a minor 3rd

The B chord is a diminished chord.

Remember the 2,3, and 6 chords of the major scale are minor chords and the 1, 4, and 5 chords are major chords.

Next lesson is Seventh Chords