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Complete Chord Library

Every chord you'll ever need — with piano keys, guitar diagrams, and note spellings for all 12 roots.

C
Major

Bright, happy sound. The most common chord in Western music.

Am
Minor

Darker, melancholic sound. Used heavily in emotional music.

G7
Dom7

Dominant 7th — tension-building chord that resolves to the tonic.

Cmaj7
Maj7

Major 7th — rich, jazzy sound used in R&B and jazz.

Am7
Min7

Minor 7th — smooth, soulful sound popular in jazz and soul.

Bdim
Diminished

Tense, unstable sound. Used as a passing chord.

Caug
Augmented

Mysterious, unstable. Creates tension before resolution.

Dsus2
Sus2

Suspended 2nd — open, unresolved sound. Common in rock.

Asus4
Sus4

Suspended 4th — classic rock sound, also creates tension.

Gadd9
Add9

Add9 — major chord with added colour. Warm, open sound.

Browse by Root Note

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

Essential Chords for Beginners

Open Guitar Chords

E
E–G#–B
Open E shape
Em
E–G–B
Two fingers
A
A–C#–E
Two or three fingers
Am
A–C–E
Two fingers
D
D–F#–A
Three fingers
G
G–B–D
Three fingers
C
C–E–G
Three fingers

Common Piano Chords

C major
C–E–G
I in C
F major
F–A–C
IV in C
G major
G–B–D
V in C
A minor
A–C–E
vi in C
D minor
D–F–A
ii in C
G7
G–B–D–F
V7 in C

Complete Chord Reference for Guitar and Piano

Our chord library contains every chord you'll encounter in popular music — from basic major and minor triads to extended jazz voicings like major 9th and minor 11th chords. Each chord page includes the note spelling (which notes make up the chord), piano keyboard diagrams highlighting the correct keys, guitar fingering diagrams for multiple positions, and musical context explaining when and how the chord is typically used.

Understanding Chord Structure

Every chord is built by stacking intervals called thirds on top of a root note. A major chord uses intervals of a major third (4 semitones) then a minor third (3 semitones) from the previous note, giving you the 1st, 3rd, and 5th degrees of the major scale. A minor chord reverses this: a minor third (3 semitones) then a major third (4 semitones), giving a flatted 3rd that creates the characteristic minor sound.

When you add a fourth note to a triad, you get a 7th chord. The type of 7th determines the chord's character: a major 7th (like in Cmaj7) creates a warm, dreamy sound; a minor 7th (like in G7 or Am7) creates tension or smoothness depending on context. Understanding these building blocks lets you construct and recognize any chord by ear.

How to Use Chord Diagrams

Guitar chord diagrams are read with the low E string on the left and the high E string on the right. The top of the diagram is the nut (or the indicated fret). Filled dots show where to fret the string with which finger (numbered 1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky). An "X" above a string means mute or don't play that string. An "O" means play the string open without fretting.

Piano chord diagrams show a section of the keyboard with the relevant notes highlighted. White keys are labeled with note names; black keys show their sharp/flat equivalents. You can play chords in any octave on the piano — the diagrams typically show the chord in the C4 (middle C) octave range as a starting reference.

FAQ

Chord Library — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read chord diagrams for guitar?
Guitar chord diagrams show the fretboard from the nut (top) to the 4th or 5th fret (bottom). Vertical lines are strings (left = low E, right = high E). Horizontal lines are frets. Dots show where to place your fingers. An 'X' means don't play that string; an 'O' means play it open.
What's the difference between a major and minor chord?
A major chord consists of a root, major third (4 semitones up), and perfect fifth (7 semitones up). A minor chord uses a minor third (3 semitones up) instead. The minor third gives minor chords their darker, more melancholic sound compared to major chords.
How are chord names structured?
Chord names start with the root note (like C, G, or F#), followed by the quality (m for minor, nothing for major, dim for diminished, aug for augmented), and any extensions (7, maj7, m7, add9, sus4, etc.). For example: Am7 = A minor with added 7th.
What is a barre chord?
A barre chord is played by pressing one finger flat across all strings at a specific fret, effectively moving an open chord shape up the neck. The most common barre chords are E-shape barres (from the open E chord shape) and A-shape barres. They allow you to play any chord quality at any position on the neck.
How do I practice chord transitions faster?
Practice the transition between just two chords in a loop — set a slow metronome (50 BPM) and focus on minimizing the time between chord changes. Try 'anchor finger' technique: keep one finger in place if it's shared between chords. Practice the movement slowly until it's muscle memory, then gradually increase tempo.
What are the most important chords to learn first?
For guitar beginners: Em, Am, E, A, D, G, C, and then Dm. These open chords let you play hundreds of songs. For piano: C major, G major, F major, A minor, D minor, and E minor. Master these 6-8 chords and you can play most popular music.
What is chord voicing?
A chord voicing is a specific arrangement of the notes in a chord — which octave each note appears in and the order from lowest to highest. Different voicings of the same chord have different sounds and are easier or harder to play in different contexts. Piano players frequently use multiple voicings of the same chord throughout a piece.
What is a power chord?
A power chord (written as C5, G5, etc.) uses only the root and the perfect fifth — no third. Because it lacks the third, it's neither major nor minor, making it very versatile. Power chords are the foundation of rock and metal guitar, often played with heavy distortion because the fifth interval sounds powerful without the dissonance of full chords.
How do slash chords work (like G/B or C/E)?
A slash chord like G/B means 'G major chord with B in the bass.' The note after the slash is the lowest note played, even if it's not the root of the chord. Slash chords create smooth bass line movements — for example, C – G/B – Am descends stepwise in the bass (C – B – A) while the harmony stays rich and full.
Are the chord charts suitable for both piano and guitar?
Yes! Every chord page shows both piano keyboard diagrams (which keys to press) and guitar fingering diagrams (which frets and strings). The chord notes are the same on both instruments — only the physical layout differs.