Piano Chord Dictionary – Click a Root & Type to See Notes

A piano chord is a group of two or more notes played simultaneously. The most common chords are built by stacking intervals of thirds above a root note. Chords form the harmonic foundation of most Western music, from classical to pop, jazz, and beyond. On the piano, chords are played by pressing multiple keys at once, creating rich harmonic textures.

A major chord uses a root, major third (4 semitones above root), and perfect fifth (7 semitones). It sounds bright, happy, and uplifting. A minor chord uses a root, minor third (3 semitones above root), and perfect fifth. It sounds darker, sadder, and more introspective. The only difference is the third — lowering it by one semitone transforms a major chord into a minor one.

7th chords add a fourth note — the seventh degree — to a triad. They create tension and richness that triads lack. The dominant 7th (e.g., G7) strongly pulls toward the tonic chord, making it essential in classical and blues progressions. The major 7th sounds lush and jazzy. The minor 7th is smooth and soulful. Half-diminished and diminished 7ths add dramatic tension, common in jazz and film music.

Chord symbols are shorthand: the letter is the root note. "m" or "min" means minor. "maj7" or "M7" means major 7th. "7" alone means dominant 7th. "m7" means minor 7th. "dim" means diminished. "aug" means augmented. "sus2/sus4" means suspended. Numbers like 9, 11, 13 indicate extended chords that include the 7th plus additional stacked thirds. For example, Cmaj7 = C-E-G-B, Dm7 = D-F-A-C.

A suspended chord replaces the third with either a second (sus2) or a fourth (sus4). This creates a floating, unresolved sound because the chord is neither major nor minor. Suspended chords are widely used in pop, rock, and folk music to add color and tension before resolving back to a standard triad. For example, Csus2 = C-D-G, and Csus4 = C-F-G.

A diminished 7th chord (dim7) consists of four notes, each spaced a minor third (3 semitones) apart: root, ♭3, ♭5, and ♭♭7 (which is enharmonically equivalent to a major 6th). For example, Cdim7 = C-E♭-G♭-A. Because of the symmetrical structure, any note in a dim7 chord can function as the root, making it highly versatile for modulation in classical and jazz music.

Extended chords build on 7th chords by adding more stacked thirds. A 9th chord adds the 9th (same as the 2nd, an octave up). An 11th chord adds the 9th and 11th (same as the 4th). A 13th chord adds the 9th, 11th, and 13th (same as the 6th). In practice, pianists often omit some notes (especially the 11th in a 13th chord) to avoid muddiness. These chords are staples of jazz, R&B, and sophisticated pop harmony.

A chord inversion occurs when a note other than the root is the lowest note. Root position has the root in the bass. First inversion has the 3rd in the bass. Second inversion has the 5th in the bass. Third inversion (for 7th chords) has the 7th in the bass. Inversions create smoother voice leading between chords and add variety. For example, C major in first inversion is E-G-C (notated as C/E).

This is due to enharmonic equivalence. Notes like C♯ and D♭ sound identical on a piano but are spelled differently depending on the musical context. For example, a C♯ major chord (C♯-E♯-G♯) sounds the same as a D♭ major chord (D♭-F-A♭). The choice of spelling depends on the key signature and harmonic function within the piece. Our tool uses the most common spelling for each chord in isolation.

Start by learning major and minor triads in all 12 keys. Practice smooth transitions between chords using inversions. Then add dominant 7th and major 7th chords. Use a metronome and practice common chord progressions (like I-IV-V-I or ii-V-I). Try playing along with songs you love — most pop songs use only 3-6 chords. Our chord dictionary is a great reference to keep handy while you practice!