Chords In A Key

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A Major
Bb Major
B Major
C Major
Db Major
D Major
Eb Major
E Major
F Major
Gb Major
G Major
Ab Major

Chords That Go Well Together - Chords In Key

These rules apply for every Major key. There is a different set of similar rules for minor keys. Like most things in music, these rules are merely guidelines when writing and working out music - the fun part is knowing when to break those rules successfully.

One way of working out what chords work with each other is to take a scale, the C Major Scale for instance, and work out the notes of that scale:

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C

Think of these notes as the root note of the set of chords you are going to use.
Then, using the following formula, play the sequence of chords one after another:
(NOTE: m means "minor" and ^O means "diminished")

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
C	Dm	Em	F	G	Am	B^O	C
I	IIm	IIIm	IV	V	VIm	VII^O	I

Click here if you want to know why and how this pattern is used

The Roman Numerals on the bottom are often used instead of the "real" name to make it easier to change keys (for instance, if the key is too high or low to sing). The important thing is that these names are relative, that is they are the same TYPES of chord whatever major key you wish to use. That is why the roman numerals can come in handy.

All being well, you should be playing something like these chords:

C	I	Dm	IIm	Em	IIIm

F	IV	G	V	Am	VIm

B^O	VII^O

A better understanding of this can be achieved by comparing the above with another key. This time, choose the notes of D Major:

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
D	E	F#	G	A	B	C#	D

Although the notes have changed, the step pattern of the Major key is the same (see section on Major Keys) and therefore the same Roman Numerals can be used:

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
D	Em	F#m	G	A	Bm	C#^O	d
I	IIm	IIIm	IV	V	VIm	VII^O	I

D	I	Em	IIm	F#m	IIIm

G	IV	A	V	Bm	VIm

C#^O	VII^O