FretWizard

Diatonic Chord Explorer

Every key produces seven chords from its scale. Select a key and mode to see all diatonic chords, their harmonic function, and how they map onto the fretboard.

Key

Mode

Diatonic Chords of C Major

CITonic

Chord Tones

CEG

Scale for Improvisation

Major / Ionian

Tip

Home base — resolve phrases here.

C chord tones

RootChord tone

C · I of C major

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
E
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
B
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
G
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
D
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
A
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
E
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#
D
D#
3
F
F#
5
G#
A
A#
B
R
C#

C Major scale (all 7 chords derive from these notes)

C Major scale

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
E
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
B
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
G
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
D
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
A
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
E
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#
2
D#
3
4
F#
5
G#
6
A#
7
R
C#

Common Major Key Progressions

I – IV – V

Rock, Country, Blues

I – V – vi – IV

Pop

I – vi – IV – V

'50s Doo-wop

ii – V – I

Jazz

Harmonic Function

Tonic

Home: stable and resolved. Progressions begin and end here. The I (or i) is the centre of gravity.

Subdominant

Departure: creates motion away from the tonic. The IV and ii lead naturally toward the dominant.

Dominant

Tension: wants to resolve back to the tonic. The V chord creates the strongest pull home.

Related

Key Explorer →Progression Explorer →C Chord Explorer →C Major Scale →Chord Progressions Lesson →Voice Leading →