C Major
The most fundamental key with no sharps or flats. Ideal for beginners and open chords.
Common Progressions
- C - G - Am - F
- C - Am - F - G
- C - F - G - C
G Major
Guitar-friendly key with one sharp. Open chords ring beautifully and appear in countless songs.
Common Progressions
- G - D - Em - C
- G - C - D - G
- G - Am - C - D
D Major
Bright, uplifting key with two sharps. Core to folk and country with easy transitions.
Common Progressions
- D - A - Bm - G
- D - G - A - D
- D - Cadd9 - G - D
A Major
A staple guitar key with three sharps. Great for rock and pop progressions.
Common Progressions
- A - D - E - A
- A - F#m - D - E
- A - E - F#m - D
E Major
Powerful open-string key for rock and blues. Big, resonant voicings.
Common Progressions
- E - B - C#m - A
- E - A - B - E
- E - C#m - A - B
F Major
Warm key with one flat. Your first barre chord milestone appears here (F).
Common Progressions
- F - C - Dm - Bb
- F - Bb - C - F
- F - Dm - Bb - C
A Minor
Relative minor of C major; beginner-friendly with open chords.
Common Progressions
- Am - F - C - G
- Am - Dm - G - C
- Am - G - F - E
E Minor
Relative minor of G major; extremely guitar-friendly with two-finger Em.
Common Progressions
- Em - C - G - D
- Em - D - C - G
- Em - Am - D - G
D Minor
Melancholic minor key; relative to F major; common in ballads.
Common Progressions
- Dm - Bb - F - C
- Dm - Gm - A - Dm
- Dm - C - Bb - F
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