What diatonic chords (the harmonic field) are
Diatonic chords is the set of chords built using only the notes of a scale. On each degree of the major scale, we apply “skip one, take one” and see what kind of chord shows up.
Diatonic chords in C major (triads)
| Degree | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | C E G | D F A | E G B | F A C | G B D | A C E | B D F |
| Chord | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | B° |
| Type | major | minor | minor | major | major | minor | diminished |
The pattern repeats in any major key:
With sevenths (seventh chords)
Stacking one more third, each degree gets its own natural seventh:
| Degree | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | C7M | Dm7 | Em7 | F7M | G7 | Am7 | Bm7(♭5) |
| Default | 7M | m7 | m7 | 7M | 7 | m7 | m7(♭5) |
Notice that there's only one dominant seventh chord (7) among the diatonic chords: the one on the V degree. That's why it's called “dominant”.
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Open the free app →Table in all the most common keys
| Whole step | I | IIm | IIIm | IV | V | VIm | VII° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | B° |
| G | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em | F♯° |
| D | D | Em | F♯m | G | A | Bm | C♯° |
| A | A | Bm | C♯m | D | E | F♯m | G♯° |
| E | E | F♯m | G♯m | A | B | C♯m | D♯° |
| F | F | Gm | Am | B♭ | C | Dm | E° |
| B♭ | B♭ | Cm | Dm | E♭ | F | Gm | A° |
Functions: home, moving away and tension
Each chord has a role in the song's “story”:
| Function | Degrees | Feeling | In C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonic | I (and III, VI) | Home, rest | C (Em, Am) |
| Subdominant | IV (and II) | Leaving home, movement | F (Dm) |
| Dominant | V (and VII) | Tension, wants to go back | G7 (B°) |
Most songs follow the path home → away → tension → home: I – IV – V – I.
The most common progressions
I – V – VIm – IV
C – G – Am – F, with the notes close together, the way a pianist would play it.
In C: C – G – Am – F. In G: G – D – Em – C. It's the progression behind hundreds of pop, sertanejo and rock hits. Start at another point and you get variations: VIm – IV – I – V (Am – F – C – G).
II – V – I
In C: Dm7 – G7 – C7M. It's the most important cadence in jazz and bossa nova: subdominant, dominant and tonic.
Listen for the feeling of “arriving” on the last chord.
I – IV – V
In A: A – D – E. The basis of blues, rock’n’roll and forró.
I – VIm – IIm – V
In C: C – Am – Dm – G. The progression of 1950s ballads and many love songs.
Secondary dominants: the 7 that comes “from outside”
Sometimes a 7 chord shows up that isn't in the key, like A7 in C major. It's the dominant of Dm (the V of II) and it “pushes” the music there: C – A7 – Dm – G7 – C. Rule of thumb: a 7 chord usually goes to the chord a a fifth below (A7 → D, E7 → A, D7 → G).
Using diatonic chords to figure out songs by ear
- Find the whole step: it's usually the chord where the music ends and “rests”.
- Write the 7 diatonic chords of that key.
- Try it first I, IV, V and VIm: they show up in the vast majority of songs.
- If none fit, look for secondary dominants or chords borrowed from the minor key.
Now put the theory into your fingers
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Practice theory in the free appFrequently asked questions
What are diatonic chords (the harmonic field)?
It's the set of chords you can build using only the notes of a scale. In C major: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and B°.
What are the diatonic chords of G major?
G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em and F♯°. With sevenths: G7M, Am7, Bm7, C7M, D7, Em7 and F♯m7(♭5).
Why is the V degree called the dominant?
Because it's the chord with the most tension in the key and “dominates” the return to the tonic. It's the only one that naturally forms a 7 chord (dominant seventh).
What's the most used progression in pop music?
I – V – VIm – IV. In C: C – G – Am – F.