Chords in the Key of C (no sharps or flats)
C has no sharps and no flats, which is why every method book starts there. The working set is C, F, G, and Am, all open shapes. When a song feels like it was written at a kitchen table, it's usually in C.
The seven chords
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| I | C | major |
| ii | Dm | minor |
| iii | Em | minor |
| IV | F | major |
| V | G | major |
| vi | Am | minor |
| vii° | B dim | diminished |
C, F, and G are the majors, Dm, Em, and Am the minors, and B diminished gets skipped by most guitar arrangements. Plenty of songs in C never leave C, F, G, and Am.
Common progressions
C, F, G. The I, IV, V, and the whole three-chord songbook with it.
C, G, Am, F. The four-chord pop axis. Several decades of hits use exactly this.
Scales to solo with
C major pentatonic is the lead scale for the major-key sound. A minor pentatonic is the same five notes from the relative minor side.
Keep exploring
Relative minor
Parallel minor
Neighbor keys, one accidental away
Key of C FAQ
What chords are in the key of C?
C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, and B diminished. The I, IV, and V are C, F, and G, and the relative minor is Am.
What is the relative minor of C major?
A minor. Same key signature, same seven chords, with Am treated as home.
How many sharps or flats does the key of C have?
None. C major is the all-natural key, which is why so much teaching material lives in it.