This article provides a comprehensive list of piano chords including Major, Minor, 7th, and more, along with efficient memorization methods.
Types of Chords
Major Chord
C: C–E–G
The brightest and most stable sound.
How to build: From the root → Major 3rd (4 semitones) → Minor 3rd (3 semitones).
Minor Chord
Cm: C–E♭–G
A sad and calm sound.
How to build: Root → Minor 3rd (3 semitones) → Major 3rd (4 semitones).
Tip: Just lower the 3rd of the Major chord (E) by a half step to E♭, and you get Minor.
Augmented
Caug: C–E–G♯
An unstable sound that creates a floating, uplifting feel.
How to build: Root → Major 3rd (4 semitones) → another Major 3rd.
Tip: Think of it as “Major chord with the 5th raised by a half step = Aug.”
Suspended 4th (sus4)
Csus4: C–F–G
A sound with openness that makes you want to “resolve” to the next chord.
How to build: Root → Perfect 4th (5 semitones) → Major 2nd (2 semitones).
Tip: Replace the 3rd (E) of the Major chord with the 4th (F). Saying “drop E, add F” helps fix it in memory.
Diminished
Cdim: C–E♭–G♭
A tense, suspenseful sound, often used to create unease.
How to build: Root → Minor 3rd (3 semitones) → another Minor 3rd.
Dominant 7th
C7: C–E–G–B♭
Standard in blues and jazz, producing a strong sense of progression.
How to build: Major triad (0–4–3) + Minor 3rd (3 semitones) = 0–4–3–3.
Tip: Simply “add a flat 7 (B♭) to a Major chord.”
Minor 7th
Cm7: C–E♭–G–B♭
A sound with a melancholy feel.
How to build: Minor triad (0–3–4) + Minor 3rd (3 semitones) = 0–3–4–3.
Tip: Remember it as “Minor + flat 7 (B♭).”
Major 7th
CM7: C–E–G–B
A sophisticated, stylish sound.
How to build: Major triad (0–4–3) + Major 3rd (4 semitones) = 0–4–3–4.
Tip: Compare with Dominant 7. Raising the flat 7 (B♭) back to natural 7 (B) makes it Major 7.
Diminished 7th
Cdim7: C–E♭–G♭–A
A dark, eerie sound with strong tension, pulling toward resolution.
How to build: Diminished triad 0–3–3 (Minor 3rd + Minor 3rd) + another Minor 3rd (3 semitones) = 0–3–3–3.
Tip: Cdim7 = C–E♭–G♭–A (or B♭♭). Think of it as “diminished triad + double-flat 7.”
Since it is a perfect symmetrical structure (3 semitones each), shifting up the keyboard by 3 keys preserves the shape, allowing 4 interchangeable chord names.
Summary when C is the Root
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = C) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | C (C–E–G) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | Cm (C–E♭–G) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | Caug (C–E–G♯) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | Csus4 (C–F–G) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | Cdim (C–E♭–G♭) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | C7 (C–E–G–B♭) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | Cm7 (C–E♭–G–B♭) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | CM7 (C–E–G–B) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | Cdim7 (C–E♭–G♭–A) |
Chord List (C / D / E / F / G / A / B)
C / C♯ / D / D♯ / E / F / F# / G / G# / A / A# / B
When Root is C♯
C# (C Sharp)
C#m (C Sharp Minor)
C#aug (C Sharp Augmented)
C#sus4 (C Sharp Suspended 4th)
C#dim (C Sharp Diminished)
C#7 (C Sharp Dominant 7th)
C#m7 (C Sharp Minor 7th)
C#M7 (C Sharp Major 7th)
C#dim7 (C Sharp Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is C♯
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = C♯) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | C♯ (C♯–E♯–G♯) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | C♯m (C♯–E–G♯) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | C♯aug (C♯–E♯–A) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | C♯sus4 (C♯–F♯–G♯) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | C♯dim (C♯–E–G) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | C♯7 (C♯–E♯–G♯–B) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | C♯m7 (C♯–E–G♯–B) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | C♯M7 (C♯–E♯–G♯–C) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | C♯dim7 (C♯–E–G–B♭) |
When Root is D
D (D Major)
Dm (D Minor)
Daug (D Augmented)
Dsus4 (D Suspended 4th)
Ddim (D Diminished)
D7 (D Dominant 7th)
Dm7 (D Minor 7th)
DM7 (D Major 7th)
Ddim7 (D Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is D
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = D) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | D (D–F♯–A) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | Dm (D–F–A) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | Daug (D–F♯–A♯) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | Dsus4 (D–G–A) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | Ddim (D–F–G♯) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | D7 (D–F♯–A–C) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | Dm7 (D–F–A–C) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | DM7 (D–F♯–A–C♯) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | Ddim7 (D–F–G♯–B) |
When Root is D♯
D♯ (D Sharp Major)
D♯m (D Sharp Minor)
D♯aug (D Sharp Augmented)
D♯sus4 (D Sharp Suspended 4th)
D♯dim (D Sharp Diminished)
D♯7 (D Sharp Dominant 7th)
D♯m7 (D Sharp Minor 7th)
D♯M7 (D Sharp Major 7th)
D♯dim7 (D Sharp Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is D♯
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = D♯) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | D♯ (D♯–G–A♯) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | D♯m (D♯–F♯–A♯) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | D♯aug (D♯–G–B) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | D♯sus4 (D♯–G♯–A♯) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | D♯dim (D♯–F♯–A) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | D♯7 (D♯–G–A♯–C♯) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | D♯m7 (D♯–F♯–A♯–C♯) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | D♯M7 (D♯–G–A♯–D) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | D♯dim7 (D♯–F♯–A–C) |
E (E Major)
Em (E Minor)
Eaug (E Augmented)
Esus4 (E Suspended 4th)
Edim (E Diminished)
E7 (E Dominant 7th)
Em7 (E Minor 7th)
EM7 (E Major 7th)
Edim7 (E Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is E
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = E) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | E (E–G♯–B) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | Em (E–G–B) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | Eaug (E–G♯–C) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | Esus4 (E–A–B) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | Edim (E–G–A♯) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | E7 (E–G♯–B–D) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | Em7 (E–G–B–D) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | EM7 (E–G♯–B–D♯) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | Edim7 (E–G–A♯–C♯) |
F (F Major)
Fm (F Minor)
Faug (F Augmented)
Fsus4 (F Suspended 4th)
Fdim (F Diminished)
F7 (F Dominant 7th)
Fm7 (F Minor 7th)
FM7 (F Major 7th)
Fdim7 (F Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is F
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = F) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | F (F–A–C) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | Fm (F–G♯–C) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | Faug (F–A–C♯) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | Fsus4 (F–A♯–C) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | Fdim (F–G♯–B) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | F7 (F–A–C–D♯) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | Fm7 (F–G♯–C–D♯) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | FM7 (F–A–C–E) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | Fdim7 (F–G♯–B–D) |
When Root is F♯
F♯ (F Sharp Major)
F♯m (F Sharp Minor)
F♯aug (F Sharp Augmented)
F♯sus4 (F Sharp Suspended 4th)
F♯dim (F Sharp Diminished)
F♯7 (F Sharp Dominant 7th)
F♯m7 (F Sharp Minor 7th)
F♯M7 (F Sharp Major 7th)
F♯dim7 (F Sharp Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is F♯
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = F♯) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | F♯ (F♯–A♯–C♯) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | F♯m (F♯–A–C♯) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | F♯aug (F♯–A♯–D) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | F♯sus4 (F♯–B–C♯) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | F♯dim (F♯–A–C) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | F♯7 (F♯–A♯–C♯–E) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | F♯m7 (F♯–A–C♯–E) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | F♯M7 (F♯–A♯–C♯–F) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | F♯dim7 (F♯–A–C–D♯) |
When Root is G
G (G Major)
Gm (G Minor)
Gaug (G Augmented)
Gsus4 (G Suspended 4th)
Gdim (G Diminished)
G7 (G Dominant 7th)
Gm7 (G Minor 7th)
GM7 (G Major 7th)
Gdim7 (G Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is G
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = G) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | G (G–B–D) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | Gm (G–A♯–D) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | Gaug (G–B–D♯) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | Gsus4 (G–C–D) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | Gdim (G–A♯–C♯) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | G7 (G–B–D–F) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | Gm7 (G–A♯–D–F) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | GM7 (G–B–D–F♯) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | Gdim7 (G–A♯–C♯–E) |
When Root is G♯
G# (G♯ Major)
G#m (G♯ Minor)
G#aug (G♯ Augmented)
G#sus4 (G♯ Suspended 4th)
G#dim (G♯ Diminished)
G#7 (G♯ Dominant 7th)
G#m7 (G♯ Minor 7th)
G#M7 (G♯ Major 7th)
G#dim7 (G♯ Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is G♯
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = G♯) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | G♯ (G♯–C–D♯) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | G♯m (G♯–B–D♯) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | G♯aug (G♯–C–E) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | G♯sus4 (G♯–C♯–D♯) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | G♯dim (G♯–B–D) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | G♯7 (G♯–C–D♯–F♯) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | G♯m7 (G♯–B–D♯–F♯) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | G♯M7 (G♯–C–D♯–G) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | G♯dim7 (G♯–B–D–F) |
When Root is A
A (A Major)
Am (A Minor)
Aaug (A Augmented)
Asus4 (A Suspended 4th)
Adim (A Diminished)
A7 (A Dominant 7th)
Am7 (A Minor 7th)
AM7 (A Major 7th)
Adim7 (A Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is A
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = A) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | A (A–C♯–E) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | Am (A–C–E) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | Aaug (A–C♯–F) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | Asus4 (A–D–E) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | Adim (A–C–D♯) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | A7 (A–C♯–E–G) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | Am7 (A–C–E–G) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | AM7 (A–C♯–E–G♯) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | Adim7 (A–C–D♯–F♯) |
When Root is B
B (B Major)
Bm (B Minor)
Baug (B Augmented)
Bsus4 (B Suspended 4th)
Bdim (B Diminished)
B7 (B Dominant 7th)
Bm7 (B Minor 7th)
BM7 (B Major 7th)
Bdim7 (B Diminished 7th)
Summary when Root is B
| Type | Structure (semitones) | Example (Root = B) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0-4-3 | B (B–D♯–F♯) |
| Minor | 0-3-4 | Bm (B–D–F♯) |
| aug (Augmented) | 0-4-4 | Baug (B–D♯–G) |
| sus4 (Suspended 4th) | 0-5-2 | Bsus4 (B–E–F♯) |
| dim (Diminished) | 0-3-3 | Bdim (B–D–F) |
| 7th | 0-4-3-3 | B7 (B–D♯–F♯–A) |
| Minor 7th | 0-3-4-3 | Bm7 (B–D–F♯–A) |
| Major 7th | 0-4-3-4 | BM7 (B–D♯–F♯–A♯) |
| dim7 (Diminished 7th) | 0-3-3-3 | Bdim7 (B–D–F–G♯) |
Complete Piano Chord List (C / C♯ / D / D♯ / E / F / F♯ / G / G♯ / A / A♯ / B)
This page provides a comprehensive list of piano chords, including Major, Minor, 7th, augmented, diminished, and suspended forms, along with practical tips for remembering them efficiently.
Use the chord summaries to quickly grasp chord structures (in semitone intervals) and apply them to any root note.
Chord Structure Reference Table
| Chord Type | Structure (semitones) | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 0–4–3 | Root + Major 3rd + Minor 3rd |
| Minor | 0–3–4 | Root + Minor 3rd + Major 3rd |
| Augmented (aug) | 0–4–4 | Root + Major 3rd + Major 3rd |
| Suspended 4th (sus4) | 0–5–2 | Root + Perfect 4th + Major 2nd |
| Diminished (dim) | 0–3–3 | Root + Minor 3rd + Minor 3rd |
| Dominant 7th (7) | 0–4–3–3 | Major triad + Minor 3rd |
| Minor 7th (m7) | 0–3–4–3 | Minor triad + Minor 3rd |
| Major 7th (M7) | 0–4–3–4 | Major triad + Major 3rd |
| Diminished 7th (dim7) | 0–3–3–3 | Fully symmetrical (Minor 3rd × 3) |
How to Use This Guide
✔ Start with C as the root and learn each chord type.
✔ Apply the same semitone formula to other root notes (D, E, F♯, etc.).
✔ Practice transitions between common chord progressions (I–IV–V–I, ii–V–I, etc.).
✔ Experiment with inversions and voicings for smoother transitions.
Tips for Beginners
🎹 Memorize by patterns instead of individual notes.
🎹 Use interval counting (half steps) to quickly build chords.
🎹 Compare variations: Major → Minor (lower the 3rd), Major → Augmented (raise the 5th), Major → Sus4 (replace the 3rd with the 4th).
Final Thoughts
By mastering chord formulas and practicing them across all 12 keys, you’ll unlock the ability to play thousands of songs with confidence.
This guide, combined with practical training methods like VR piano apps, will help you not only memorize but also apply chords in real music-making situations.