C Major
The most fundamental key with no sharps or flats. Ideal for beginners and open chords.
Popular:
- C - G - Am - F
- C - Am - F - G
G Major
Guitar-friendly key with one sharp. Open chords ring beautifully and appear in countless songs.
Popular:
- G - D - Em - C
- G - C - D - G
D Major
Bright, uplifting key with two sharps. Core to folk and country with easy transitions.
Popular:
- D - A - Bm - G
- D - G - A - D
A Major
A staple guitar key with three sharps. Great for rock and pop progressions.
Popular:
- A - D - E - A
- A - F#m - D - E
E Major
Powerful open-string key for rock and blues. Big, resonant voicings.
Popular:
- E - B - C#m - A
- E - A - B - E
F Major
Warm key with one flat. Your first barre chord milestone appears here (F).
Popular:
- F - C - Dm - Bb
- F - Bb - C - F
A Minor
Relative minor of C major; beginner-friendly with open chords.
Popular:
- Am - F - C - G
- Am - Dm - G - C
E Minor
Relative minor of G major; extremely guitar-friendly with two-finger Em.
Popular:
- Em - C - G - D
- Em - D - C - G
D Minor
Melancholic minor key; relative to F major; common in ballads.
Popular:
- Dm - Bb - F - C
- Dm - Gm - A - Dm