In this post, you’ll find a complete list of chords in the key of C, organized in a way that makes it easy to follow and understand, showing the chord symbol, name, notes, formula, and intervals for each one. The chords are also presented in the table format.
We’ve broken it down into sections to cover every chord type, including C major, C minor, added and augmented chords, dominant chords, diminished chords, and suspended chords.
Additionally, you’ll find the same detailed breakdown for C-flat (Cb) and C-sharp (C#), so you can explore every possible variation in the key of C.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to understand chord structures or an advanced player in need of a quick reference, this guide has all the information you need.
C Chords
C Major Chords
C major chord
The root chord for the C major scale and one of the most commonly used chords in music.
Symbol: C
Chord: C major
Notes: C, E, G
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), and G (perfect fifth)
C major sixth chord
C + major sixth note: Add a major sixth note to the C major chord.
Symbol: C6
Chord: C major sixth
Notes: C, E, G, A
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), and A (major sixth)
C major seventh chord
C + major seventh note: Add a major seventh note to the C major chord.
Symbol: Cmaj7
Chord: C major seventh
Notes: C, E, G, B
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), and B (major seventh)
C major ninth chord
Cmaj7 + major ninth note: Add a major ninth note to the C major seventh chord.
Symbol: Cmaj9
Chord: C major ninth
Notes: C, E, G, B, D
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), B (major seventh), and D (major ninth)
C major eleventh chord
Cmaj9 + major eleventh note: Add an eleventh note to the C major ninth chord.
Symbol: Cmaj11
Chord: C major eleventh
Notes: C, E, G, B, D, F
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9 – 11
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), B (major seventh), D (major ninth), and F (perfect eleventh)
C major thirteenth chord
Cmaj11+ major thirteenth note: Add a thirteenth note to the C major eleventh chord.
Symbol: Cmaj13
Chord: C major thirteenth
Notes: C, E, G, B, D, F, A
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9 – 11 – 13
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), B (major seventh), D (major ninth), F (perfect eleventh), and A (major thirteenth)
C major sixth-ninth chord
C6 + major ninth note : Add a major ninth note to the C major sixth chord.
Symbol: C6/9
Chord: C major sixth-ninth
Notes: C, E, G, A, D
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 – 9
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), A (major sixth), and D (major ninth)
C Major Chords Table
Chord | Notes |
---|---|
C (C major) | C, E, G |
C6 (C major sixth) | C, E, G, A |
Cmaj7 (C major seventh) | C, E, G, B |
Cmaj9 (C major ninth) | C, E, G, B, D |
Cmaj11 (C major eleventh) | C, E, G, B, D, F |
Cmaj13 (C major thirteenth) | C, E, G, B, D, F, A |
C6/9 (C major sixth-ninth) | C, E, G, A, D |
C Minor Chords
C minor chord
Symbol: Cm
Chord: C minor
Notes: C, Eb, G
Formula: 1 – b3 – 5
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), and G (perfect fifth)
C minor sixth chord
Symbol: Cm6
Chord: C minor sixth
Notes: C, Eb, G, A
Formula: 1 – b3 – 5 – 6
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), G (perfect fifth), and A (major sixth)
C minor seventh chord
Symbol: Cm7
Chord: C minor seventh
Notes: C, Eb, G, Bb
Formula: 1 – b3 – 5 – b7
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), G (perfect fifth), and Bb (minor seventh)
C minor ninth chord
Symbol: Cm9
Chord: C minor ninth
Notes: C, Eb, G, Bb, D
Formula: 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 – 9
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), and D (major ninth)
C minor eleventh chord
Symbol: Cm11
Chord: C minor eleventh
Notes: C, Eb, G, Bb, D, F
Formula: 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 – 9 – 11
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), D (major ninth), and F (perfect eleventh)
C minor thirteenth chord
Symbol: Cm13
Chord: C minor thirteenth
Notes: C, Eb, G, Bb, D, F, A
Formula: 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 – 9 – 11 – 13
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), D (major ninth), F (perfect eleventh), and A (major thirteenth)
C Minor Chords Table
Chord | Notes |
---|---|
Cm (C minor) | C, Eb, G |
Cm6 (C minor sixth) | C, Eb, G, A |
Cm7 (C minor seventh) | C, Eb, G, Bb |
Cm9 (C minor ninth) | C, Eb, G, Bb, D |
Cm11 (C minor eleventh) | C, Eb, G, Bb, D, F |
Cm13 (C minor thirteenth) | C, Eb, G, Bb, D, F, A |
C Added, Augmented Chords
C added ninth chord
Symbol: Cadd9
Chord: C added ninth
Notes: C, E, G, D
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), and D (major ninth)
C augmented chord
Symbol: Caug
Chord: C augmented
Notes: C, E, G#
Formula: 1 – 3 – #5
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), and G# (augmented fifth)
C power chord
Symbol: C5
Chord: C power
Notes: C, G
Formula: 1 – 5
Interval: C (root note), and G (perfect fifth)
Chord | Notes |
---|---|
Cadd9 (C added ninth) | C, E, G, D |
Caug (C augmented) | C, E, G# |
C5 (C power) | C, G |
C Dominant Chords
Dominant chords are built on the fifth scale degree (G in the key of C) of a major scale.
It has a unique sound that can make music feel exciting and full of energy. It usually wants to move to another chord, kind of like how you might want to jump up and down when you’re really excited!
The most common dominant chord is called the dominant seventh chord.
C dominant seventh chord
Symbol: C7
Chord: C dominant seventh
Notes: C, E, G, Bb
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), and Bb (minor seventh)
C dominant ninth chord
Symbol: C9
Chord: C dominant ninth
Notes: C, E, G, Bb, D
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – 9
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), and D (major ninth)
C dominant eleventh chord
Symbol: C11
Chord: C dominant eleventh
Notes: C, E, G, Bb, D, F
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – 9 – 11
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), D (major ninth), and F (perfect eleventh)
C dominant minor ninth chord
Symbol: C7(b9)
Chord: C dominant minor ninth
Notes: C, E, G, Bb, Db
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – b9
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), and Db (minor ninth)
C dominant seventh flat five chord
Symbol: C7(b5)
Chord: C dominant seventh flat five
Notes: C, E, Gb, Bb
Formula: 1 – 3 – b5 – b7
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), Gb (diminished fifth), and Bb (minor seventh)
C dominant seventh sharp ninth chord
Symbol: C7(#9)
Chord: C dominant seventh sharp ninth
Notes: C, E, G, Bb, D#
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – #9
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), and D# (augmented ninth)
C dominant seventh suspended fourth chord
Symbol: C7sus4
Chord: C dominant seventh suspended fourth
Notes: C, F, G, Bb
Formula: 1 – 4 – 5 – b7
Interval: C (root note), F (perfect fourth), G (perfect fifth), and Bb (minor seventh)
C dominant thirteenth chord
Symbol: C13
Chord: C dominant thirteenth
Notes: C, E, G, Bb, D, F, A
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – 9 – 11 – 13
Interval: C (root note), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), D (major ninth), F (perfect eleventh), and A (major thirteenth)
Chord | Notes |
---|---|
C7 (C dominant seventh) | C, E, G, Bb |
C9 (C dominant ninth) | C, E, G, Bb, D |
C11 (C dominant eleventh) | C, E, G, Bb, D, F |
C7(b9) (C dominant minor ninth) | C, E, G, Bb, Db |
C7(b5) (C dominant seventh flat five) | C, E, Gb, Bb |
C7(#9) (C dominant seventh sharp ninth) | C, E, G, Bb, D# |
C7sus4 (C dominant seventh suspended fourth) | C, F, G, Bb |
C13 (C dominant thirteenth) | C, E, G, Bb, D, F, A |
C Diminished Chords
C diminished chord
Symbol: Cdim
Chord: C diminished
Notes: C, Eb, Gb
Formula: 1 – b3 – b5
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), and Gb (diminished fifth)
C diminished seventh chord
Symbol: Cdim7
Chord: C diminished seventh
Notes: C, Eb, Gb, Bbb (same as A)
Formula: 1 – b3 – b5 – bb7
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), Gb (diminished fifth), and Bbb (same as A) b(diminished seventh)
C half-diminished seventh chord
Symbol: Cm7(b5)
Chord: C half-diminished seventh
Notes: C, Eb, Gb, Bb
Formula: 1 – b3 – b5 – b7
Interval: C (root note), Eb (minor third), Gb (diminished fifth), and Bb (minor seventh)
Chord | Notes |
---|---|
Cdim (C diminished) | C, Eb, Gb |
Cdim7 (C diminished seventh) | C, Eb, Gb, Bbb (same as A) |
Cm7(b5) (C half-diminished seventh) | C, Eb, Gb, Bb |
C Suspended Chords
C suspended second chord
Symbol: Csus2
Chord: C suspended second
Notes: C, D, G
Formula: 1 – 2 – 5
Interval: C (root note), D (major second), and G (perfect fifth)
C suspended fourth chord
Symbol: Csus4
Chord: C suspended fourth
Notes: C, F, G
Formula: 1 – 4 – 5
Interval: C (root note), F (perfect fourth), and G (perfect fifth)
Chord | Notes |
---|---|
Csus2 (C suspended second) | C, D, G |
Csus4 (C suspended fourth) | C, F, G |
This concludes the complete list of chords in the key of C.
In the next part, we’ll dive into the chords in the key of C-flat (Cb), with the same detailed breakdown of chord symbols, names, notes, formulas, and intervals.