C Major: Notes, Chords and Scale
C major is a major key. Its key signature has no sharps or flats. Its scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and its seven diatonic chords are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim. Below are the 7th chords, Roman numerals, related keys, the Camelot code and a keyboard diagram.
Key signature
0
Relative key
Parallel key
Camelot code
8B
Notes
C D E F G A B
Chords in C major
- ICC E G
- iiDmD F A
- iiiEmE G B
- IVFF A C
- VGG B D
- viAmA C E
- vii°BdimB D F
Seventh chords
- Imaj7Cmaj7C E G B
- ii7Dm7D F A C
- iii7Em7E G B D
- IVmaj7Fmaj7F A C E
- V7G7G B D F
- vi7Am7A C E G
- viiø7Bm7♭5B D F A
How to use these chords
- I, IV and V (C, F, G) are the primary chords. Together they contain all seven notes of the scale.
- vi (Am) and iii (Em) each share two notes with I, and ii (Dm) shares two notes with IV, so these minor chords often stand in for them.
- V7 (G7) contains the leading tone, B, which pulls up to the root, so it resolves strongly to I. vii° (Bdim) has the same upper three notes as V7 and is mostly used as a passing chord.
- Common progressions, in Roman numerals: I V vi IV (C, G, Am, F); I vi IV V (C, Am, F, G); ii V I (Dm, G, C); ii7 V7 Imaj7 (Dm7, G7, Cmaj7).
Common uses of C major
- C major shares its seven notes and its key signature with its relative minor, A minor.
- On a piano, C major uses only the white keys.
- On guitar, C, G, Am, Dm, Em all have common open position shapes.
- In the Camelot system DJs use for harmonic mixing, C major is 8B; tracks in 7B, 9B and 8A usually mix smoothly with it.
- Open C major in the Scale and Chord Finder
- Find your song's key from the audio: Detect Key and BPM
- Camelot Wheel: 8B
- Write chords or MIDI in C major with MIDI LabMIDI Lab, from the same team as SongTools, writes chord progressions, bass, drums and melody as MIDI from a prompt.
- A minor: notes and chords
- All 24 major and minor keys
Questions about C major
What chords are in C major?
The seven chords in C major are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°). As seventh chords they are Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7, Bm7♭5.
What notes are in the C major scale?
C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Its key signature has no sharps or flats.
What is the relative minor of C major?
A minor. It uses the same seven notes and key signature as C major, starting from A. The parallel minor, C minor, starts on the same note as C major but has a different key signature.
What is the Camelot code for C major?
8B. Next to it on the Camelot wheel are 7B and 9B, and 8A is its relative minor, A minor.