Piano chords
Fourteen chord types in all twelve keys. Each page plays the chord on a piano, spells out the notes and inversions, and shows which keys it belongs to. For whole progressions, see chord progressions; for the notes of a key, see scales.
Major chords
1 3 5. The root, a major third and a perfect fifth. The basic bright chord.
Minor chords
1 b3 5. The root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. Darker and more serious than major.
Dominant seventh chords
1 3 5 b7. A major chord with a minor seventh on top. It has tension that wants to resolve, usually to the chord a fifth below.
Major seventh chords
1 3 5 7. A major chord with a major seventh on top. Soft, warm and a little jazzy.
Minor seventh chords
1 b3 5 b7. A minor chord with a minor seventh on top. Smooth and moody rather than sad.
Diminished chords
1 b3 b5. The root, a minor third and a diminished fifth. Tense and unstable, mostly used as a passing chord.
Diminished seventh chords
1 b3 b5 bb7. A diminished chord with a diminished seventh. Every note is a minor third from the next, which makes it dramatic and symmetrical.
Half-diminished chords
1 b3 b5 b7. A diminished chord with a minor seventh, also written ø. The natural chord on the second step of a minor key.
Augmented chords
1 3 #5. A major chord with a raised fifth. Unresolved and dreamy, it often leads into the next chord.
Suspended second chords
1 2 5. The third is replaced by the second, so the chord is neither major nor minor. Open and airy.
Suspended fourth chords
1 4 5. The third is replaced by the fourth. It sounds like it wants to fall back to the major or minor chord.
Add nine chords
1 3 5 9. A major chord with the ninth added and no seventh. Brighter and more open than the plain major chord.
Dominant ninth chords
1 3 5 b7 9. A dominant seventh with the ninth on top. Funky and full.
Minor ninth chords
1 b3 5 b7 9. A minor seventh with the ninth on top. Lush and deep.