Learn the keys

Key signatures, scales, and chords

Learn six useful major and minor keys with playable scales, key signatures, diatonic chords, relative keys, and chord progressions.

A focused first set

Three relative pairs

C major and A minor use no sharps or flats. G major and E minor share one sharp. F major and D minor share one flat. Together, these six guides let you compare major and minor without learning many signatures at once.

Major keyC majorNo sharps or flats. Scale, chords, relative key, and a playable progression.Minor keyA minorNo sharps or flats. Scale, chords, relative key, and a playable progression.Major keyG major1 sharp: F♯. Scale, chords, relative key, and a playable progression.Minor keyE minor1 sharp: F♯. Scale, chords, relative key, and a playable progression.Major keyF major1 flat: B♭. Scale, chords, relative key, and a playable progression.Minor keyD minor1 flat: B♭. Scale, chords, relative key, and a playable progression.

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Compare the relative keys

Each pair has the same notes and key signature, but a different tonal home.

Major and relative minor key pairs
Major keyMinor keySignature
C majorA minorNo sharps or flats
G majorE minor1 sharp: F♯
F majorD minor1 flat: B♭

How to use a key guide

  1. Play the scale and listen for the tonic as the resting note.
  2. Build the seven triads, keeping every note inside the scale.
  3. Play the example progression and name each Roman numeral.
  4. Open the circle of fifths to compare nearby keys.