Piano chord finder
Choose a root note and a chord type. You'll see the notes, how the chord is built, where it sits on the keyboard, and every inversion.
C major C
Notes: C E G
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5
| Note | Chord tone | Interval above C | Half steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | root | 0 |
| E | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| G | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
A common fingering for root-position triads: right hand 1–3–5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger), left hand 5–3–1. Fingers are numbered from the thumb (1) to the little finger (5).
Inversions of C
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts a different chord tone in the bass (lowest note). Slash names show the bass note after the slash.
Root position C
Bottom to top: C – E – G
1st inversion C/E
Bottom to top: E – G – C
2nd inversion C/G
Bottom to top: G – C – E
From music.leadsmerchant.com, the Leads Merchant music tools site.
Popular chords
Want them all on paper? The printable piano chord chart has 12 roots × 11 chord types. To see which chords belong together, use chords in a key.
Common questions
What notes are in an F sharp major chord?
F♯ major is F♯, A♯, C♯: the root, a major third above it (A♯) and a perfect fifth above it (C♯).
Why is it A♯ and not B♭ in F♯ major?
They are the same piano key, but chords are spelled in thirds, so the third of an F chord must use the letter A. B♭ would be a diminished fourth above F♯, not a third.
What is the difference between a major and a minor chord?
Both have a root and a perfect fifth. A major triad has a major third (4 half steps) above the root, and a minor triad has a minor third (3 half steps). For example, C major is C–E–G and C minor is C–E♭–G.
What is a chord inversion?
The same chord with a different note in the bass. With the third in the bass it is in first inversion; with the fifth in the bass it is in second inversion; seventh chords also have a third inversion, with the seventh in the bass.
Theory references: Chelsey Hamm, “Triads,” Open Music Theory (VIVA Pressbooks); “Seventh Chords,” Open Music Theory (VIVA Pressbooks); “Inversion and Figured Bass,” Open Music Theory 2e (Gotham et al.), LibreTexts.