Which Chords Go Together? How to Find the Chords in Any Key
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You found a chord that sounds great, but which chord comes next? That is probably the most asked question when you start making beats or writing songs. Good news: you do not have to guess. Every key has a fixed set of chords that naturally belong together. Once you know that set, you will rarely play a wrong chord again.
In this article you will learn how to find the chords in any key, which combinations flow best and how to turn them into a progression in a few minutes. Including a chart you can save as a cheat sheet.
The short answer
Chords go together when they come from the same key. A key has seven notes. Build a chord on each of those notes using only notes from that same key, and you get seven chords that form one family. These are called the diatonic chords.
Example in C major: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim. Stick to chords from this list and it will always sound logical. Which order sounds best, you will read below.
How to find the chords in any key
You do not need to memorize charts. There is a fixed pattern.
Major: major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished
In every major key, the seven chords always have the same quality, in this order:
- I: major
- ii: minor
- iii: minor
- IV: major
- V: major
- vi: minor
- vii°: diminished
The Roman numerals show the position in the scale. Uppercase means a major chord, lowercase means a minor chord, and the little circle (°) means diminished.
Minor: minor, diminished, major, minor, minor, major, major
In a (natural) minor key, the pattern shifts:
- i: minor
- ii°: diminished
- III: major
- iv: minor
- v: minor
- VI: major
- VII: major
3 steps to your chords
- Find the key. Working on an existing beat or sample? Drop the file into Beat Lab and get a key and BPM estimate right in your browser. More ways are in how to find the key of a song.
- Write down the seven notes of the scale. Or just check the chart below.
- Apply the pattern. Major: major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished. Minor: minor, diminished, major, minor, minor, major, major.
Chart: the chords in every key
Major keys
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | Bdim |
| G major | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em | F#dim |
| D major | D | Em | F#m | G | A | Bm | C#dim |
| A major | A | Bm | C#m | D | E | F#m | G#dim |
| E major | E | F#m | G#m | A | B | C#m | D#dim |
| F major | F | Gm | Am | Bb | C | Dm | Edim |
| Bb major | Bb | Cm | Dm | Eb | F | Gm | Adim |
| Eb major | Eb | Fm | Gm | Ab | Bb | Cm | Ddim |
Minor keys
| Key | i | ii° | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A minor | Am | Bdim | C | Dm | Em | F | G |
| E minor | Em | F#dim | G | Am | Bm | C | D |
| B minor | Bm | C#dim | D | Em | F#m | G | A |
| F# minor | F#m | G#dim | A | Bm | C#m | D | E |
| D minor | Dm | Edim | F | Gm | Am | Bb | C |
| G minor | Gm | Adim | Bb | Cm | Dm | Eb | F |
| C minor | Cm | Ddim | Eb | Fm | Gm | Ab | Bb |
Notice something? C major and A minor use exactly the same chords. The same goes for every pair: G major and E minor, F major and D minor, and so on. That is called the relative minor. The only difference is which chord feels like "home".
Which chords sound best after each other?
All seven chords fit the key, but some moves sound smoother than others. Two simple rules of thumb:
1. Shared notes make a change smooth
C (C, E, G) and Am (A, C, E) share two notes, so the change is almost seamless. C to Em (E, G, B) also shares two notes. Want a clear change instead? Pick a chord with fewer shared notes, like C to Dm.
2. Every chord has a job: rest, movement or tension
- Rest: I (and also vi and iii). This is where the music feels at home.
- Movement: IV and ii. These chords take you away from home.
- Tension: V and vii°. They want to go back to I.
A progression that goes from rest to movement to tension and back almost always sounds complete. That is why the progressions below work so well.
6 chord progressions that always work
All examples are in C major or A minor, so white keys only. With the Roman numerals and the chart you can move them to any other key.
1. I, V, vi, IV (C, G, Am, F)
Probably the best known four chords in pop music. Upbeat, open and easy to sing over. Works for pop, melodic hooks and singalong choruses.
2. vi, IV, I, V (Am, F, C, G)
The same four chords, but you start on Am. That makes it feel more emotional. You hear this a lot in melodic rap and sad pop.
3. I, vi, IV, V (C, Am, F, G)
The classic you know from old ballads and doo-wop. The G at the end keeps pulling you back to C.
4. ii, V, I (Dm, G, C)
Movement, tension, rest. It comes from jazz and it is all over R&B and soul. With seventh chords it sounds even warmer, see our R&B chord progressions.
5. i, VI, III, VII (Am, F, C, G)
A favorite in trap and drill. Dark but not depressing, and it loops perfectly.
6. i, iv, V (Am, Dm, E)
Watch out: this uses E major instead of Em. It comes from the harmonic minor scale, and the G# in it pulls hard back to A. That creates tension, and it is the best known "exception" to the chart. More dark variations are in dark trap chord progressions.
Can you use chords outside the key?
Yes. The chart is a safe starting point, not a law. Producers often borrow chords from another key for extra color, like E major in A minor above, or an Fm in C major for a bittersweet touch. Just try it and listen. A good rule of thumb: the shorter the "outside" chord plays, the easier it is to make it work.
Turn it into a beat fast
- Pick your key. If it suits the vocalist's range, great. Not sure? Start in A minor or C major.
- Pick 2 to 4 chords from the chart. You usually do not need more.
- One chord per bar. Simple and slow leaves room for drums and vocals.
- Let your bass or 808 play the root notes. For Am, F, C, G that is A, F, C, G.
- Build your melody from the notes of the chord that is playing. That way it will almost never sound off.
Do not feel like clicking everything into the piano roll? With the free Chord Progression Generator you pick a mood (Dark, Sad, Chill, Happy, Epic or R&B), major or minor, your key and tempo. Listen right in your browser and download the MIDI with two tracks: chords and a bass line. Drag it straight into FL Studio, Logic Pro or Ableton.
FAQ
How many chords are in a key?
Seven basic chords, one on each note of the scale. In major that is three major chords, three minor chords and one diminished chord. Minor has the same, just in a different order.
Why does my chord progression sound boring?
Often you stay too long on chords with the same job, for example only "rest" chords (C, Am, Em). Add a chord with tension, like G (V), and your loop gets direction.
Do I have to use the diminished chord?
No. It sounds unstable and gets used less than the others. Used briefly, for example as a step up to I, it can add nice tension.
Does this work on guitar too?
Yes. The chords and the pattern are the same on every instrument. On guitar, keys like G, D, E or A major are often easy to play.
How do I know if my chords fit an existing beat?
Find the key of the beat first, for example with Beat Lab, then use the chords from the matching row in the chart. Beat does not fit your voice? You can also transpose the beat.
Want more free help, like a BPM finder, master checker and rhyme finder? Check out all our free music tools.