Chord Cheatsheet

Roman numerals in 30 seconds

Chords get numbers based on their position in the key. The numbers let you move any pattern into any key.

• UPPERCASE = major chord (bright)
• lowercase = minor chord (darker)

The I chord is home. Songs feel finished when they land there.

(There is also a vii° chord — Bdim in C — but pop songs rarely use it. Skip it.)

Ukulele shapes

Four numbers = the four strings, top to bottom: G C E A. 0 = open string.

Key of C

• C = 0003
• Dm = 2210
• Em = 0432
• F = 2010
• G = 0232
• Am = 2000

Key of G

• G = 0232
• Am = 2000
• Bm = 4222 (harder)
• C = 0003
• D = 2220
• Em = 0432

Strum patterns, melody notes, and Phase 2 chords are in Ukulele Songwriter's Guide.

What's in each chord (letter names)

You need these for the chord chart beside おんぷノート, and for playing chords on a GarageBand keyboard. A chord is three notes: skip a letter, take one, skip, take one.

Key of C

• C = C E G
• Dm = D F A
• Em = E G B
• F = F A C
• G = G B D
• Am = A C E

Key of G

• G = G B D
• Am = A C E
• Bm = B D F♯
• C = C E G
• D = D F♯ A
• Em = E G B

On a GarageBand keyboard: right hand plays the three notes, left hand plays just the chord's letter name, low.

Famous four-chord loops

Try each one. Write a mood word next to it.

1. I – V – vi – IV — C G Am F / G D Em C — Mood: __________
2. vi – IV – I – V — Am F C G / Em C G D — Mood: __________
3. I – vi – IV – V — C Am F G / G Em C D — Mood: __________
4. IV – I – V – vi — F C G Am / C G D Em — Mood: __________
5. I – IV – vi – V — C F Am G / G C Em D — Mood: __________

Make your own: pick any four chords from I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi. Rules of thumb:

• Starting on I feels settled and bright.
• Starting on vi feels emotional.
• Ending on V makes you want to go back to the start. Great for loops.

My Song 1 progression: ______ – ______ – ______ – ______ Tempo: ______ BPM

Phase 2 chords

See Minor & Borrowed Chords for minor keys and borrowed chords (Fm, B♭, A♭ in C).