First Piano Chords

If you are starting out, learn these before anything else. They are plain triads in keys that fall comfortably under the hand, and between them they will get you through a large share of the songs anyone actually wants to play. Get them changing smoothly before adding sevenths.

34 chords carry this tag, across 3 chord types: major, minor, power chord. Each one has its notes spelled for that key, a fingering worked out from its own shape, a staff, and a keyboard you can hear it on.

Triads

Three notes. Every one of these is playable with one hand from day one, and between them they cover most of the music anybody starts out learning.

Major Chords

The most common chords in music. Major chords sound bright, happy, and resolved.

C
C – E – G
Db
Db – F – Ab
D
D – F# – A
Eb
Eb – G – Bb
E
E – G# – B
F
F – A – C
G
G – B – D
Ab
Ab – C – Eb
A
A – C# – E
Bb
Bb – D – F
B
B – D# – F#

Minor Chords

Minor chords have a darker, sadder, and more contemplative sound than major chords.

Cm
C – Eb – G
C#m
C# – E – G#
Dm
D – F – A
Em
E – G – B
Fm
F – Ab – C
F#m
F# – A – C#
Gm
G – Bb – D
G#m
G# – B – D#
Am
A – C – E
Bbm
Bb – Db – F
Bm
B – D – F#

Power Chord Chords

Power chords are root and fifth with no third, so they are neither major nor minor.

C5
C – G
Db5
Db – Ab
D5
D – A
Eb5
Eb – Bb
E5
E – B
F5
F – C
F#5
F# – C#
G5
G – D
Ab5
Ab – Eb
A5
A – E
Bb5
Bb – F
B5
B – F#

Other tags

The same 288 chords, sorted a different way.

StylePop84Jazz192Blues36Rock48Classical72Gospel & Soul120Funk72Film Score96
MoodBright48Dark72Tense96Dreamy72
UseFirst Chords34Songwriting96Passing Chords36Two-Hand Chords108
LevelBeginner54Intermediate97Advanced137

Back to the full chord library for all 288 chords grouped by type.