What chords are in the key of C Major?

The key of C Major uses C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am. Those six cover almost every song written in C Major; the seventh, a diminished chord on the leading note, turns up far more rarely.

How many sharps or flats does C Major have?

C Major has no sharps or flats — every note is natural, which is why it is usually the first key people learn.

What is the relative minor of C Major?

A Minor — it shares the same notes and the same key signature as C Major, just centred on a different home chord. Songs slip between the two all the time.

What capo position is best for C Major?

A capo on fret 5, fingering G shapes. It sounds exactly like C Major but swaps the barre chords for open ones.

Chords in the Key of C Major

C Major is built from C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and carries no sharps or flats in its key signature. On guitar it is easiest with a capo on fret 5, fingering G shapes.

The 6 chords of C Major

Tap any diagram for a full fingering guide for that chord.

Chord numbers and numerals

Roman numerals are how theory writes a key; Nashville numbers are how session players call one on stage. Both say the same thing — the chord's position in the key, independent of which key you end up in.

Numeral	Nashville	Chord in C Major	Role
I	1	C	Home chord (tonic)
ii	2m	Dm	Sets up the V
iii	3m	Em	Gentle, wistful
IV	4	F	Subdominant
V	5	G	Dominant — pulls home
vi	6m	Am	Relative minor

More on this in the Nashville number system guide.

Common progressions in C Major

The same handful of progressions carry most of popular music. Here they are written out in this key.

The four-chord song

I – V – vi – IV

The most-used progression in modern pop and worship. If a song feels instantly familiar, it is usually this.

C→G→Am→F

The three-chord trick

I – IV – V

Folk, blues, country and early rock live here. Three chords and the truth.

C→F→G

The sensitive rotation

vi – IV – I – V

The same four chords starting on the relative minor, which makes it feel wistful rather than triumphant.

Am→F→C→G

The '50s progression

I – vi – IV – V

Doo-wop and slow-dance ballads — think of any song with a swung 6/8 feel.

C→Am→F→G

The jazz cadence

ii – V – I

The strongest resolution in tonal music, and the backbone of jazz standards.

Dm→G→C

Playing C Major on guitar

How hard this key is has nothing to do with the music and everything to do with where the notes fall on the neck.

Played open, C Major asks for barre chords, which is tiring over a full set and a common place for beginners to stall. Put a capo on fret 5 and finger G shapes instead: the song still sounds in C Major, but your hand is doing the easy version. See the full capo breakdown for C Major →

Its relative minor is A Minor — same notes, same key signature, different centre of gravity. The parallel key, C Minor, keeps the same home note but flips the mood; borrowing a chord from it is one of the oldest tricks for making a chorus land.

Move a song into or out of C Major

If C Major does not fit the singer, these pages show exactly which chord becomes which.

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of C Major?: The key of C Major uses C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am. Those six cover almost every song written in C Major; the seventh, a diminished chord on the leading note, turns up far more rarely.
How many sharps or flats does C Major have?: C Major has no sharps or flats — every note is natural, which is why it is usually the first key people learn.
What is the relative minor of C Major?: A Minor — it shares the same notes and the same key signature as C Major, just centred on a different home chord. Songs slip between the two all the time.
What capo position is best for C Major?: A capo on fret 5, fingering G shapes. It sounds exactly like C Major but swaps the barre chords for open ones.

Have a chart in C Major?

Upload the PDF or a photo and move every chord to whatever key you need — the layout stays exactly as printed, capo banner included.

Transpose a chart Capo for C Major