Interactive Piano Chord Chart

How to Use This Chord Chart

Choose any root note from C to B and pair it with a chord quality. The interactive piano highlights the exact keys that make up the chord and displays their note names. Click Play to hear the chord through your speakers using synthesized piano tones.

Photo by jordan besson / Pexels

Chord Types Explained

Type	Formula (semitones)	Character
Major	0 - 4 - 7	Bright, happy
Minor	0 - 3 - 7	Sad, moody
7th (dominant)	0 - 4 - 7 - 10	Bluesy tension
Major 7th	0 - 4 - 7 - 11	Smooth, jazzy
Minor 7th	0 - 3 - 7 - 10	Mellow jazz
Diminished	0 - 3 - 6	Tense, unstable
Augmented	0 - 4 - 8	Mysterious, dreamy
Sus2	0 - 2 - 7	Open, airy
Sus4	0 - 5 - 7	Unresolved, hopeful

Photo by jordan besson / Pexels

Understanding Piano Chords

A chord is three or more notes played simultaneously. On the piano, chords are built by stacking intervals measured in semitones (half steps) above a root note. The root note gives the chord its letter name, while the intervals determine the chord quality.

• Triads consist of three notes: root, third, and fifth. Major and minor triads are the most common.
• Seventh chords add a fourth note on top of the triad, creating richer harmonic color used extensively in jazz, blues, and pop.
• Suspended chords replace the third with either the second (sus2) or fourth (sus4), creating an open sound that wants to resolve.
• Diminished and augmented chords alter the fifth, producing tension and ambiguity useful for transitions and dramatic moments.

Tips for Learning Chords

• Start with C, F, and G major - these three chords let you play hundreds of songs.
• Learn the minor versions next: Am, Dm, Em are extremely common.
• Practice switching between chords smoothly before worrying about speed.
• Use this chart to visualize finger placement and hear how each chord should sound.