Bright pop · I–V–vi–IV
C · G · Am · F
PIANOLIA TOOLS / 01
Piano chord generatorOne idea. A few chords. Your turn to play.
Choose a mood, hear your progression and find every note on the piano.
Your chord progression
1 chord = 1 bar
Choose your settings to begin.
Free · No sign-up · Play at your own pace
01 / THE BASICS
How do you build a piano chord?
A chord combines several notes played together. Start with triads: three notes, a root, a third and a fifth. On the piano, C major is C–E–G; A minor is A–C–E.
Count semitones, including both white and black keys. A major chord uses 4 semitones followed by 3. A minor chord reverses this: 3 followed by 4. The root gives the chord its name.
Reading chord symbols
C = Do · D = Ré · E = Mi
F = Fa · G = Sol · A = La · B = Si
“m” means minor. “7” adds a minor seventh to a major triad: G7 = G–B–D–F. “maj7” means a major seventh: Cmaj7 = C–E–G–B.
02 / FIND A MOOD
Chord progressions for every style
A progression is a sequence of chords that forms a piece’s harmonic foundation. Roman numerals show each chord’s position in the key. In C major, I = C, IV = F, V = G and vi = Am. These labels let you transpose the same idea into another key.
Minor mood · i–VI–III–VII
Am · F · C · G
Jazz · ii–V–I
Dm7 · G7 · Cmaj7 · Cmaj7
Pop: a singable loop
Play a bass note with your left hand and a chord with your right, then try arpeggios. The same sequence can feel gentle or energetic depending on tempo and accents.
Jazz: hearing the resolution
In Dm7–G7–Cmaj7, the tension of degree V resolves to degree I. Keep shared notes between chords and listen to the movement of thirds and sevenths.
Reggae, classical and ragtime
Rhythm changes everything: short offbeat chords for reggae, steady arpeggios for a classical feel, and alternating bass notes with syncopated chords to explore ragtime. The progression gives you a framework; your touch brings the style.
03 / YOUR FIRST BLUES
Build a 12-bar blues
Traditional major blues often uses three dominant seventh chords: I7, IV7 and V7. In C, these are C7, F7 and G7. Here is a common form: each cell represents one bar of four beats.
- 1C7
- 2C7
- 3C7
- 4C7
- 5F7
- 6F7
- 7C7
- 8C7
- 9G7
- 10F7
- 11C7
- 12G7
Start slowly with the root in your left hand and the chord in your right. Then give eighth notes a long–short feel to explore shuffle. For improvisation, try C–E♭–F–G♭–G–B♭, the C blues scale. E♭ creates expressive tension over C7: resolve phrases to a chord tone.
04 / FAMILIAR SOUNDS
Familiar pieces and their chords
Recognising a progression helps you understand what you play. These simplified harmonic excerpts offer a starting point at the piano; arrangements, inversions and the timing of changes vary between versions.
Let It Be
C · G · Am · F
Verse opening · C major · I–V–vi–IV.
See the reference chord chart ↗Canon in D
D · A · Bm · F♯m · G · D · G · A
Simplified ostinato in D major.
Explore the reference lesson ↗05 / TURN CHORDS INTO MUSIC
One progression, your first melodies
Keep a slow, steady pulse. First play each chord’s root with your left hand, then add its other notes. With your right hand, pick two or three chord tones and invent a short phrase. Repeat it, changing only the last note for the next chord.
An inversion places another chord tone at the bottom. C–E–G, E–G–C and G–C–E are all C major chords. Look for positions requiring the least movement to make transitions feel more natural.
A FEW POINTERS
Your piano chord questions
How do I use the chord generator?
Choose a key, major or minor, a style and a level. The progression updates immediately. Select “Generate another progression” to explore a new idea, then “Play progression”. Click any chord to see its notes and hear it on its own.
Is the generator free and available without signing up?
Yes. Use this page for free without signing up. Generation and playback run in your browser. The Impro workshop then offers a guided path through chords, melodies and accompaniment.
What is the difference between major and minor chords?
A major triad contains a root, a major third and a perfect fifth: C–E–G. Lower the third by one semitone to make a minor triad: C–E♭–G. This changes the chord’s colour.
Do I need a MIDI keyboard to hear the chords?
No. Click the play button to hear the piano in your browser. Then play the displayed notes on your piano or keyboard.
Does a generated blues always follow the traditional form?
The generator explores variations based on degrees I, IV and V. To start with a fixed twelve-bar structure, use “Try this progression” in the blues section.