Use this free chord and scale finder to see the notes in any chord or scale, in every key. Pick a root note, choose a chord or scale type, and the notes appear instantly — perfect for guitar, piano, bass and songwriting.
How to find the notes in a chord or scale
- Choose the root note — for example C, G or F#.
- Pick the chord or scale type from the menu (major, minor, seventh, pentatonic and more).
- The finder instantly shows every note in that chord or scale.
How chords are built
A chord is a group of notes played together, built by stacking intervals on top of a root note. A major chord uses the root, major third and perfect fifth — so C major is C, E and G. A minor chord flattens the third, giving C, E♭ and G. Once you know the formula, you can build any chord from any root, and this chord finder does that maths for you in every key.
Common chords and their notes
| Chord | Formula | Example (root C) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 1 – 3 – 5 | C – E – G |
| Minor | 1 – ♭3 – 5 | C – E♭ – G |
| Dominant 7 | 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 | C – E – G – B♭ |
| Major 7 | 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 | C – E – G – B |
| Minor 7 | 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 | C – E♭ – G – B♭ |
| Diminished | 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 | C – E♭ – G♭ |
| Augmented | 1 – 3 – #5 | C – E – G# |
| Suspended 4 | 1 – 4 – 5 | C – F – G |
Which chords belong in a key
Songs usually draw their chords from a single scale, which is why some progressions sound settled and others sound wrong. In any major key the chords follow a fixed pattern of qualities:
| Degree | Quality | In C major |
|---|---|---|
| I | Major | C |
| ii | Minor | Dm |
| iii | Minor | Em |
| IV | Major | F |
| V | Major | G |
| vi | Minor | Am |
| vii° | Diminished | Bdim |
That pattern — major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished — holds in every major key. It is why I–V–vi–IV (C, G, Am, F in C major) works in thousands of songs, and why swapping in a chord from outside the key immediately sounds like a deliberate departure.
Why a chord and scale finder is useful
- Songwriting — quickly find chords that share notes to build smooth progressions.
- Learning an instrument — see exactly which notes to play for guitar, piano or bass.
- Improvising — match a scale to the chords you’re playing over for soloing.
- Ear training — check your guesses about what notes make up a chord.
Chords vs scales
A chord is a handful of notes sounded together, while a scale is a longer sequence of notes that defines a key or mood. The chords in a song are usually drawn from a scale — for example, the chords in a song in C major come from the C major scale. Switch between chord and scale modes in the finder to explore how they relate.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a C major chord?
A C major chord contains the notes C, E and G. Change the root or type in the finder to see the notes for any other chord.
Is this chord finder free?
Yes. The chord and scale finder is completely free and works in any browser with no sign-up.
Does it show scales as well as chords?
Yes. As well as major, minor and seventh chords, it displays major, minor, pentatonic, dorian and blues scales in every key.
Can I use this for guitar and piano?
Yes. The notes are the same on any instrument, so the finder works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele and more.
What scale should I solo with over a chord progression?
If the progression stays in one key, the major scale of that key (or its relative minor) will fit every chord. Over a single minor chord, the minor pentatonic on that root is the safest choice, and over a dominant seventh chord the mixolydian mode of the root works well.
What is the difference between a key and a scale?
A scale is the set of notes itself. A key is the sense of home a piece of music establishes around one of those notes. A song in C major uses the C major scale and resolves comfortably to a C chord, which is what makes C the key rather than just a note in the scale.
Working out a song by ear? Find its tempo with the BPM tapper, or detect key and tempo automatically with the key and BPM finder. See all our free music tools.