Key of C on Guitar: Chords and Progressions
No sharps or flats - the blueprint key. Every other key is measured against it.
The notes
C D E F G A B
Find them all on the fretboard notes tool.
The chords in this key
Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that always sound good together in C. The Roman numerals are how musicians talk about them - they work in every key.
| Numeral | Chord |
|---|---|
| I | C |
| ii | Dm |
| iii | Em |
| IV | F |
| V | G |
| vi | Am |
| vii° | Bdim |
Progressions to try
- C - F - G - the classic three-chord folk song.
- C - G - Am - F - the four-chord pop formula.
Why this matters: when someone says a song is "in C", these are the chords they are choosing from. Learn the I, IV, and V chords first - that is most songs.