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Chords

Chord explorer

Pick a chord type, then see it in the song-friendly keys C, F, G, A, D, E, and Bb. Yellow is the root; mint is every other note to play.

What kind of chord?

Major triads: bright, stable, and the best place to begin.

Formula: 1 · 3 · 5

From shape to song

  1. Play the root alone and say its letter name.
  2. Add the full chord; let it ring long enough to hear the color.
  3. Pair it with a nearby chord: C–F–G for major, Am–Dm–Em for minor.
  4. When it is easy, keep the left-hand root and change only the right-hand shape.

Original keyboard diagrams

The chord formulas and keyboard diagrams are rendered locally by this site. They are practical reference shapes, not copied images or notation.