← Teaching

Worksheet

Build the Diatonic Chords in Every Key

The reference sheet gives you C and G. Fill in the other ten — a triad on each scale degree, using only notes from that key. The pattern of qualities never changes:

I
Major
ii
minor
iii
minor
IV
Major
V
Major
vi
minor
vii°
dim

Same order, every major key.

C Major Worked example

IiiiiiIVVvivii° CDmEmFGAmB°

D Major 2 sharps

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

A Major 3 sharps

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

E Major 4 sharps

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

B Major 5 sharps

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

F♯ Major 6 sharps

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

F Major 1 flat

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

B♭ Major 2 flats

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

E♭ Major 3 flats

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

A♭ Major 4 flats

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

D♭ Major 5 flats

IiiiiiIVVvivii°

Check yourself: every I, IV and V should come out major; every ii, iii and vi minor; vii° diminished. If one doesn’t, the scale spelling is off — look for a missing sharp or flat.