Understanding guitar keys and their corresponding chords is fundamental for any guitarist, whether you’re composing your own music, learning to play songs, or jamming with others. A Guitar Keys Chart serves as an invaluable tool, clearly outlining the diatonic chords—chords that naturally occur—within each key. This guide will delve into the world of guitar key charts, explaining how to use them effectively to enhance your musical journey.
Guitar key charts are more than just lists of chords; they are roadmaps to understanding musical harmony. By familiarizing yourself with these charts, you can quickly identify the key of a song by recognizing its chord patterns. If you’re trying to figure out the key of a song, simply list the chords you hear and compare them to the chords listed in a guitar key chart. This comparison can quickly reveal the song’s key.
Furthermore, guitar key charts are excellent references for chord selection and substitution when writing your own chord progressions. They provide a clear picture of which chords will sound harmonious together within a specific key, opening up creative possibilities for songwriters and composers.
Major Keys Guitar Chord Chart: A Comprehensive Table
The chart below details the diatonic chords in every major key. The top row indicates the interval and quality of each chord in relation to the key. Uppercase Roman numerals denote major chords, while lowercase numerals represent minor chords. The diminished chord is marked with ‘o’ or ‘♭5’.
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi* | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | Bdim |
| C# | C# | D#m | E#m | F# | G# | A#m | B#dim |
| D♭ | D♭ | E♭m | Fm | G♭ | A♭ | B♭m | Cdim |
| D | D | Em | F#m | G | A | Bm | C#dim |
| E♭ | E♭ | Fm | Gm | A♭ | B♭ | Cm | Ddim |
| E | E | F#m | G#m | A | B | C#m | D#dim |
| F | F | Gm | Am | B♭ | C | Dm | Edim |
| F# | F# | G#m | A#m | B | C# | D#m | E#dim |
| G♭ | G♭ | A♭m | B♭m | C♭ | D♭ | E♭m | Fdim |
| G | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em | F#dim |
| A♭ | A♭ | B♭m | Cm | D♭ | E♭m | Fm | Gdim |
| A | A | Bm | C#m | D | E | F#m | G#dim |
| B♭ | B♭ | Cm | Dm | E♭ | F | Gm | Adim |
| B | B | C#m | D#m | E | F# | G#m | A#dim |
*The vi chord in a major key is also known as the relative minor. Major and relative minor keys share the same key signature and chords, but the root and therefore the function of each chord within the key changes. To delve deeper, explore the relationship between relative major and minor keys.
Minor Keys Guitar Chord Chart: Explore the Minor Side
Just as crucial are minor key chord charts. The following chart presents the diatonic chords for each minor key. The top row again indicates the interval of each chord within the key.
| Key | i | ii° | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Am | Am | Bdim | C | Dm | Em | F | G |
| A#m | A#m | B#dim | C# | D#m | E#m | F# | G# |
| B♭m | B♭m | Cdim | D♭ | E♭m | Fm | G♭ | A♭ |
| Bm | Bm | C#dim | D | Em | F#m | G | A |
| Cm | Cm | Ddim | E♭ | Fm | Gm | A♭ | B♭ |
| C#m | C#m | D#dim | E | F#m | G#m | A | B |
| Dm | Dm | Edim | F | Gm | Am | B♭ | C |
| D#m | D#m | E#dim | F# | G#m | A#m | B | C# |
| E♭m | E♭m | Fdim | G♭ | A♭m | B♭m | C♭ | D♭ |
| Em | Em | F#dim | G | Am | Bm | C | D |
| Fm | Fm | Gdim | A♭ | B♭m | Cm | D♭ | E♭m |
| F#m | F#m | G#dim | A | Bm | C#m | D | E |
| Gm | Gm | Adim | B♭ | Cm | Dm | E♭ | F |
| G#m | G#m | A#dim | B | C#m | D#m | E | F# |
*The III chord in a minor key is its relative major. Like relative minors, relative major and minor keys share a key signature. Learn more about the relationship in our lesson on relative major and minor keys.
Understanding Diatonic Chords: Building Blocks of Harmony
The chords within a key, known as diatonic chords, are derived directly from the notes of the key’s scale. For example, the chords in the key of C major are built using only the notes of the C major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B). The specific chord quality (major, minor, or diminished) is determined by the intervals between the notes within the scale.
To gain a deeper understanding of how these chords are constructed and why they possess their particular qualities, explore our detailed lesson on Building Chords from the Major Scale. This lesson provides a step-by-step guide to creating major and minor chords within any key, enhancing your grasp of chord theory.
Expanding Your Musical Toolkit with Guitar Key Charts
Guitar key charts are not just for identifying keys; they are powerful tools for musical creativity. When songwriting, these charts can guide you in selecting chords that naturally complement each other, ensuring harmonic coherence in your progressions. They can also inspire you to explore chord substitutions—replacing a diatonic chord with another that maintains harmonic function but adds a unique color to your music.
For instance, knowing the chords in a key allows you to experiment with common chord progressions like the I-vi-IV-V (e.g., in C major: C-Am-F-G) or create your own unique sequences. Furthermore, understanding key charts can aid in improvisation, helping you choose appropriate scales and arpeggios that align with the chords being played.
In conclusion, guitar key charts are essential resources for guitarists of all levels. They demystify the relationship between keys and chords, providing a practical framework for learning songs, writing music, and deepening your understanding of music theory. By utilizing these charts, you unlock a more intuitive and creative approach to playing the guitar.
Explore Further Resources
To further enhance your guitar skills and music theory knowledge, check out these related resources:
- Guitar Essentials: Foundational Fretboard Navigation: Master the fretboard and navigate with confidence.
- Chord Voicings for Guitar: Learn how different voicings can enrich your chord playing.
- Major Scale Chords: What they are and how to build them: Deepen your understanding of major scale harmony.
- How to Determine the Key of a Song: Develop your ear and analytical skills to identify song keys.
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