Major & Minor Chords
All 12 major and 12 minor chord notes for piano — written in easy alphabet letters.
Major Chords
A major chord sounds bright, happy and resolved. The formula is the root note + 4 semitones + 3 more semitones.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| C | C E G |
| C# / Db | C# F G# |
| D | D F# A |
| D# / Eb | D# G A# |
| E | E G# B |
| F | F A C |
| F# / Gb | F# A# C# |
| G | G B D |
| G# / Ab | G# C D# |
| A | A C# E |
| A# / Bb | A# D F |
| B | B D# F# |
Minor Chords
A minor chord sounds darker, sadder and more emotional. The formula is the root note + 3 semitones + 4 more semitones — exactly the reverse of a major chord.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cm | C D# G |
| C#m / Dbm | C# E G# |
| Dm | D F A |
| D#m / Ebm | D# F# A# |
| Em | E G B |
| Fm | F G# C |
| F#m / Gbm | F# A C# |
| Gm | G A# D |
| G#m / Abm | G# B D# |
| Am | A C E |
| A#m / Bbm | A# C# F |
| Bm | B D F# |
How to Practice
Start with the "easy four": C, G, Am, F. These four chords appear in thousands of pop and Bollywood songs. Once you can switch between them smoothly, you can play hundreds of songs.
- Play each chord with your right hand, holding all three notes together
- Use thumb (1), middle finger (3), and pinky (5) for triads in root position
- Try playing the root note in your left hand while right hand plays the chord
- Practice switching between two chords until the change feels effortless
What's Next?
You've completed the three free lesson pages. The next step is putting it all together — playing real songs. Head over to our Song Notes Library for 25+ songs in letter format, or book a free trial class to learn with a real instructor.