Diatonic Chord Chart: All 12 Keys (Major and Minor)

This reference lists all seven diatonic chords for each of the 12 major keys and 12 minor keys. It’s meant to be skimmed, not memorized — bookmark it and come back when you need to check a key.

Hear it first

A chart is easier to trust once you’ve heard a row of it.

1. Open the Diatonic Chord Tool
2. Pick a key you actually play in, like G or D
3. Tap through its seven chords from left to right
4. Compare them against that key’s row in the table below

Reading and hearing the same row at once is what makes the chart stick. The shapes on the page start to carry a sound.

How to Read This Chart

Columns are the seven diatonic degrees: I, IIm, IIIm, IV, V, VIm, VIIdim.

Key	I	IIm	IIIm	IV	V	VIm	VIIdim
C	C	Dm	Em	F	G	Am	Bdim
G	G	Am	Bm	C	D	Em	F#dim
D	D	Em	F#m	G	A	Bm	C#dim
A	A	Bm	C#m	D	E	F#m	G#dim
E	E	F#m	G#m	A	B	C#m	D#dim
B	B	C#m	D#m	E	F#	G#m	A#dim
F#/Gb	F#	G#m	A#m	B	C#	D#m	E#dim
Db	Db	Ebm	Fm	Gb	Ab	Bbm	Cdim
Ab	Ab	Bbm	Cm	Db	Eb	Fm	Gdim
Eb	Eb	Fm	Gm	Ab	Bb	Cm	Ddim
Bb	Bb	Cm	Dm	Eb	F	Gm	Adim
F	F	Gm	Am	Bb	C	Dm	Edim

Minor Key Chart (Natural Minor)

Minor keys follow a different order: Im, IIdim, ♭III, IVm, Vm, ♭VI, ♭VII (in natural minor). In real songs the Vm is often raised to a major V or V7 for a stronger pull home — that’s harmonic minor.

Key	Im	IIdim	♭III	IVm	Vm	♭VI	♭VII
Am	Am	Bdim	C	Dm	Em	F	G
Em	Em	F#dim	G	Am	Bm	C	D
Bm	Bm	C#dim	D	Em	F#m	G	A
F#m	F#m	G#dim	A	Bm	C#m	D	E
C#m	C#m	D#dim	E	F#m	G#m	A	B
G#m	G#m	A#dim	B	C#m	D#m	E	F#
Dm	Dm	Edim	F	Gm	Am	Bb	C
Gm	Gm	Adim	Bb	Cm	Dm	Eb	F
Cm	Cm	Ddim	Eb	Fm	Gm	Ab	Bb
Fm	Fm	Gdim	Ab	Bbm	Cm	Db	Eb
Bbm	Bbm	Cdim	Db	Ebm	Fm	Gb	Ab
Ebm	Ebm	Fdim	Gb	Abm	Bbm	Cb	Db

A major key and its relative minor share the exact same chords — C major and A minor both use C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim. The only difference is which chord feels like home.

Tips for Using This Chart

1. Don’t memorize it row by row. Learn the pattern (M-m-m-M-M-m-dim) and apply it to any root.
2. Start with one key you play in and get fluent with just those seven chords.
3. Think in degree names (I, IV, V). They transfer across keys instantly, where chord names don’t.

What to try next

Cover the chart and try to fill in one key from memory using the M-m-m-M-M-m-dim pattern. Then open the tool, play that key, and check yourself. Repeat with a key that has more sharps or flats — that’s where the pattern really earns its keep.

→ Check any key by ear in the Diatonic Chord Tool