C major chords, relative minor and Camelot code (8B)
C major has no sharps or flats. Its chords are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and B°. The relative minor is A minor and the Camelot code is 8B, so it mixes cleanly with 7B, 9B and 8A.
Notes in the C major scale
C major has no sharps or flats.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
Chords in C major
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get the seven chords that belong to the key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | C | C · E · G |
| ii | Dm | D · F · A |
| iii | Em | E · G · B |
| IV | F | F · A · C |
| V | G | G · B · D |
| vi | Am | A · C · E |
| vii° | B° | B · D · F |
Common progressions in C major
- C – G – Am – F (I–V–vi–IV): the most used pop progression of the last forty years.
- C – Am – F – G (I–vi–IV–V): the 1950s doo-wop turnaround.
- Dm – G – C (ii–V–I): the jazz cadence.
- Am – F – C – G (vi–IV–I–V): the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, started on the minor chord for a darker feel.
Keys that mix with C major
C major is 8B on the Camelot wheel. For a clean blend, go to a key next to it:
| Camelot | Key | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 7B | F major | One step round the wheel: shares six of its seven notes |
| 9B | G major | One step the other way: also shares six of seven notes |
| 8A | A minor | The relative minor: exactly the same notes |
How the wheel works is in the Camelot wheel explained, and how to use it in a set is in harmonic mixing for DJs.
Relative and parallel keys
The relative minor, A minor, uses exactly the same notes with a different home chord. The parallel minor, C minor, keeps C as home but changes three notes. More on the difference in relative major and minor keys.
Questions people ask
What chords are in C major?
C (I), Dm (ii), Em (iii), F (IV), G (V), Am (vi) and B° (vii°).
What is the relative minor of C major?
A minor. It uses the same 7 notes, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, but centres on A instead of C.
What is the Camelot code for C major?
8B. In Open Key notation it is 1d.
What keys mix well with C major?
F major (7B), G major (9B) and A minor (8A). They sit next to 8B on the Camelot wheel.
How many sharps or flats does C major have?
No sharps or flats.