Key of C major

Chords in the key of C major

Stacking thirds on each note of the major scale gives these chords. The Roman numeral shows each chord's job in the key: uppercase is major, lowercase is minor, and ° is diminished.

Chord names link to guitar shapes. For the same chords on ukulele, or for every chord in every key at a glance, see the chord chart.

Key signature of C major

C major has no sharps or flats: it uses only the white keys on the piano. The relative minor key, A minor, uses exactly the same signature. See all of them on the key signature chart and circle of fifths.

Common chord progressions in C major

These popular progressions, written out in the key of C major:

• The four-chord pop progression (I–V–vi–IV): C G Am F Piano fingering →
• Three-chord classic (I–IV–V–I): C F G C Piano fingering →
• 50s doo-wop (I–vi–IV–V): C Am F G Piano fingering →
• Jazz ii–V–I (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 Piano fingering →

The "piano fingering" links show the smoothest inversions for each progression. To change a song into C major, use the chord transposer.

Playing C major on guitar: which capo?

C major already uses friendly open chords, so you can play it with no capo: C, Dm, Em, G, Am are all easy shapes. See every capo position for C major →

Related keys

• Relative minor: A minor (no sharps or flats)
• Parallel key (same tonic): C minor (3 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭)
• Dominant key (a fifth up): G major (1 sharp: F♯)
• Subdominant key (a fifth down): F major (1 flat: B♭)

Closely related keys differ by at most one sharp or flat, which is why songs modulate between them so easily. Explore them with the relative key finder.

Learn the key of C major

• The full C major scale page has the formula, degree names and practice tips.
• Work out the key of a progression with the chords to key finder.
• Practise spotting keys with Name That Key, and degrees with Scale Degree Names.

Frequently asked questions