ChordWheel
C major

How the wheel works
  • Each step clockwise is up a 5th (C → G → D). Each step adds one sharp or takes away one flat.
  • A key's chords sit together: IV, I and V side by side on the outside, ii, vi and iii right under them. The only one missing is vii°.
  • Neighbouring keys share six of their seven notes, so moving one step is a smooth key change. Moving across the wheel is a bold one.
  • Counterclockwise is the strong direction: roots falling a 5th drive most progressions (V to I, ii to V, vi to ii). Make the chord one step clockwise of any chord a dominant 7th and it pulls into it hard; that's a secondary dominant.
  • The wheel only places roots, major or minor. Sus, add9, 6 and 7th chords are colours of the chord in the same slot: Dsus4 lives where D does. The one that points somewhere is a dominant 7th: it leads to the chord one step counterclockwise.
  • Each inner minor has exactly the same notes and chords as the major above it (its relative). Only the home chord changes.

Chords you can get

Tap any chord in the table above or here for its notes and fingerings.

Any progression, any key

Chord names or numbers: "G D Em C", "1 5 6 4", "ii7 V7 Imaj7", "I bVII IV", "C G/B Am".

Numbers
Chords

Minor-key song? Pick its relative major (Am → C).

Every key

C majorG majorD majorA majorE majorB majorF♯ majorD♭ majorA♭ majorE♭ majorB♭ majorF majorA minorE minorB minorF♯ minorC♯ minorG♯ minorD♯ minorB♭ minorF minorC minorG minorD minor

Also: how the circle of fifths works · every scale · every chord