Learning to play bass chords on the piano is a great way to strengthen your playing skills as a beginner. Playing the piano chords in the key of C lets you learn major, minor, and diminished chords without having to play any black piano keys.

01 of 07

Left Hand C Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

C major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: C  Major Third: E Perfect Fifth: G

The C major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

C major (chord I) / A minor (chord III)G major (chord IV) / E minor (chord VI)F major (chord V) / D minor (chord VII)

Switch Bass Chord Type: 

Cmajor | Cmajor6 | Cmajor7 | Cmajor9 Cminor | Cminor6 | Cminor7 | Cminor9 C diminished | C diminished 7th C augmented | C augmented 7th C sus2 C sus4

02 of 07

Left Hand D Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

D minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: D Minor Third: F Perfect Fifth: A 

The D minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

D minor (chord i) / F major (chord vi)A minor (chord iv) / C major (chord ii)G minor (chord v) / Bb major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Dmajor | Dmajor6 | Dmajor7 | Dmajor9 Dminor | Dminor6 | Dminor7 | Dminor9 D diminished | D diminished 7th D augmented | D augmented 7th D sus2 D sus4

03 of 07

Left Hand E Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

E minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: E Minor Third: G Perfect Fifth: B

The E minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

E minor (chord i) / G major (chord vi)A minor (chord v) / C major (chord iii)B minor (chord iv) / D major (ii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Emajor | Emajor6 | Emajor7 | Emajor9 Eminor | Eminor6 | Eminor7 | Eminor9 E diminished | E diminished 7th E augmented | E augmented 7th E sus2 E sus4

04 of 07

Left Hand F Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

F major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: F Major Third: A Perfect Fifth: C

The F major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

F major (chord I) / D minor (chord III)C major (chord IV) / A minor (chord VI)Bb major (chord V) / G minor (chord VII)

Switch bass chord type: 

Fmajor | Fmajor6 | Fmajor7 | Fmajor9 Fminor | Fminor6 | Fminor7 | Fminor9 F diminished | F diminished 7th F augmented | F augmented 7th F sus2 F sus4

05 of 07

Left Hand G Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

G major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: G Major Third: B Perfect Fifth: D

The G major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

G major (chord I) / E minor (chord III)C major (chord V) / A minor (chord VII)D major (chord IV) / B minor (chord VI)

Switch bass chord type: 

Gmajor | Gmajor6 | Gmajor7 | Gmajor9 Gminor | Gminor6 | Gminor7 | Gminor9 G diminished | G diminished 7th G augmented | G augmented 7th G sus2 G sus4

06 of 07

Left Hand A Minor Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

A minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: A Minor Third: C Perfect Fifth: E

The A minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

A minor (chord i) / C major (chord vi)E minor (chord iv) / G major (chord ii)D minor (chord v) / F major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Amajor | Amajor6 | Amajor7 | Amajor9 Aminor | Aminor6 | Aminor7 | Aminor9 A diminished | A diminished 7th A augmented | A augmented 7th A sus2 A sus4

07 of 07

Left Hand B Diminished Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

B diminished bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: B Minor Third: D Diminished Fifth: F B° occurs naturally in the key of C major (chord vii°) / A minor (chord ii°)

Mood of Diminished Chords:

A diminished chord’s character is ambiguous at best. When heard alone, they can sound eerie, goofy, or even annoying. Within music, they create the desire for tonal resolution, and tend to “leave the listener hanging”:

Switch bass chord type: 

Bmajor | Bmajor6 | Bmajor7 | Bmajor9 Bminor | Bminor6 | Bminor7 | Bminor9 B diminished | B diminished 7th B augmented | B augmented 7th B sus2 B sus4

Learning to play bass chords on the piano is a great way to strengthen your playing skills as a beginner. Playing the piano chords in the key of C lets you learn major, minor, and diminished chords without having to play any black piano keys.

01 of 07

Left Hand C Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

C major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: C  Major Third: E Perfect Fifth: G

The C major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

C major (chord I) / A minor (chord III)G major (chord IV) / E minor (chord VI)F major (chord V) / D minor (chord VII)

Switch Bass Chord Type: 

Cmajor | Cmajor6 | Cmajor7 | Cmajor9 Cminor | Cminor6 | Cminor7 | Cminor9 C diminished | C diminished 7th C augmented | C augmented 7th C sus2 C sus4

02 of 07

Left Hand D Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

D minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: D Minor Third: F Perfect Fifth: A 

The D minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

D minor (chord i) / F major (chord vi)A minor (chord iv) / C major (chord ii)G minor (chord v) / Bb major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Dmajor | Dmajor6 | Dmajor7 | Dmajor9 Dminor | Dminor6 | Dminor7 | Dminor9 D diminished | D diminished 7th D augmented | D augmented 7th D sus2 D sus4

03 of 07

Left Hand E Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

E minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: E Minor Third: G Perfect Fifth: B

The E minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

E minor (chord i) / G major (chord vi)A minor (chord v) / C major (chord iii)B minor (chord iv) / D major (ii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Emajor | Emajor6 | Emajor7 | Emajor9 Eminor | Eminor6 | Eminor7 | Eminor9 E diminished | E diminished 7th E augmented | E augmented 7th E sus2 E sus4

04 of 07

Left Hand F Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

F major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: F Major Third: A Perfect Fifth: C

The F major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

F major (chord I) / D minor (chord III)C major (chord IV) / A minor (chord VI)Bb major (chord V) / G minor (chord VII)

Switch bass chord type: 

Fmajor | Fmajor6 | Fmajor7 | Fmajor9 Fminor | Fminor6 | Fminor7 | Fminor9 F diminished | F diminished 7th F augmented | F augmented 7th F sus2 F sus4

05 of 07

Left Hand G Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

G major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: G Major Third: B Perfect Fifth: D

The G major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

G major (chord I) / E minor (chord III)C major (chord V) / A minor (chord VII)D major (chord IV) / B minor (chord VI)

Switch bass chord type: 

Gmajor | Gmajor6 | Gmajor7 | Gmajor9 Gminor | Gminor6 | Gminor7 | Gminor9 G diminished | G diminished 7th G augmented | G augmented 7th G sus2 G sus4

06 of 07

Left Hand A Minor Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

A minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: A Minor Third: C Perfect Fifth: E

The A minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

A minor (chord i) / C major (chord vi)E minor (chord iv) / G major (chord ii)D minor (chord v) / F major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Amajor | Amajor6 | Amajor7 | Amajor9 Aminor | Aminor6 | Aminor7 | Aminor9 A diminished | A diminished 7th A augmented | A augmented 7th A sus2 A sus4

07 of 07

Left Hand B Diminished Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

B diminished bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: B Minor Third: D Diminished Fifth: F B° occurs naturally in the key of C major (chord vii°) / A minor (chord ii°)

Mood of Diminished Chords:

A diminished chord’s character is ambiguous at best. When heard alone, they can sound eerie, goofy, or even annoying. Within music, they create the desire for tonal resolution, and tend to “leave the listener hanging”:

Switch bass chord type: 

Bmajor | Bmajor6 | Bmajor7 | Bmajor9 Bminor | Bminor6 | Bminor7 | Bminor9 B diminished | B diminished 7th B augmented | B augmented 7th B sus2 B sus4

Learning to play bass chords on the piano is a great way to strengthen your playing skills as a beginner. Playing the piano chords in the key of C lets you learn major, minor, and diminished chords without having to play any black piano keys.

01 of 07

Left Hand C Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

C major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: C  Major Third: E Perfect Fifth: G

The C major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

C major (chord I) / A minor (chord III)G major (chord IV) / E minor (chord VI)F major (chord V) / D minor (chord VII)

Switch Bass Chord Type: 

Cmajor | Cmajor6 | Cmajor7 | Cmajor9 Cminor | Cminor6 | Cminor7 | Cminor9 C diminished | C diminished 7th C augmented | C augmented 7th C sus2 C sus4

02 of 07

Left Hand D Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

D minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: D Minor Third: F Perfect Fifth: A 

The D minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

D minor (chord i) / F major (chord vi)A minor (chord iv) / C major (chord ii)G minor (chord v) / Bb major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Dmajor | Dmajor6 | Dmajor7 | Dmajor9 Dminor | Dminor6 | Dminor7 | Dminor9 D diminished | D diminished 7th D augmented | D augmented 7th D sus2 D sus4

03 of 07

Left Hand E Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

E minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: E Minor Third: G Perfect Fifth: B

The E minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

E minor (chord i) / G major (chord vi)A minor (chord v) / C major (chord iii)B minor (chord iv) / D major (ii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Emajor | Emajor6 | Emajor7 | Emajor9 Eminor | Eminor6 | Eminor7 | Eminor9 E diminished | E diminished 7th E augmented | E augmented 7th E sus2 E sus4

04 of 07

Left Hand F Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

F major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: F Major Third: A Perfect Fifth: C

The F major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

F major (chord I) / D minor (chord III)C major (chord IV) / A minor (chord VI)Bb major (chord V) / G minor (chord VII)

Switch bass chord type: 

Fmajor | Fmajor6 | Fmajor7 | Fmajor9 Fminor | Fminor6 | Fminor7 | Fminor9 F diminished | F diminished 7th F augmented | F augmented 7th F sus2 F sus4

05 of 07

Left Hand G Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

G major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: G Major Third: B Perfect Fifth: D

The G major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

G major (chord I) / E minor (chord III)C major (chord V) / A minor (chord VII)D major (chord IV) / B minor (chord VI)

Switch bass chord type: 

Gmajor | Gmajor6 | Gmajor7 | Gmajor9 Gminor | Gminor6 | Gminor7 | Gminor9 G diminished | G diminished 7th G augmented | G augmented 7th G sus2 G sus4

06 of 07

Left Hand A Minor Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

A minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: A Minor Third: C Perfect Fifth: E

The A minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

A minor (chord i) / C major (chord vi)E minor (chord iv) / G major (chord ii)D minor (chord v) / F major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Amajor | Amajor6 | Amajor7 | Amajor9 Aminor | Aminor6 | Aminor7 | Aminor9 A diminished | A diminished 7th A augmented | A augmented 7th A sus2 A sus4

07 of 07

Left Hand B Diminished Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

B diminished bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: B Minor Third: D Diminished Fifth: F B° occurs naturally in the key of C major (chord vii°) / A minor (chord ii°)

Mood of Diminished Chords:

A diminished chord’s character is ambiguous at best. When heard alone, they can sound eerie, goofy, or even annoying. Within music, they create the desire for tonal resolution, and tend to “leave the listener hanging”:

Switch bass chord type: 

Bmajor | Bmajor6 | Bmajor7 | Bmajor9 Bminor | Bminor6 | Bminor7 | Bminor9 B diminished | B diminished 7th B augmented | B augmented 7th B sus2 B sus4

Learning to play bass chords on the piano is a great way to strengthen your playing skills as a beginner. Playing the piano chords in the key of C lets you learn major, minor, and diminished chords without having to play any black piano keys.

01 of 07

Left Hand C Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

C major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: C  Major Third: E Perfect Fifth: G

The C major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

C major (chord I) / A minor (chord III)G major (chord IV) / E minor (chord VI)F major (chord V) / D minor (chord VII)

Switch Bass Chord Type: 

Cmajor | Cmajor6 | Cmajor7 | Cmajor9 Cminor | Cminor6 | Cminor7 | Cminor9 C diminished | C diminished 7th C augmented | C augmented 7th C sus2 C sus4

02 of 07

Left Hand D Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

D minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: D Minor Third: F Perfect Fifth: A 

The D minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

D minor (chord i) / F major (chord vi)A minor (chord iv) / C major (chord ii)G minor (chord v) / Bb major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Dmajor | Dmajor6 | Dmajor7 | Dmajor9 Dminor | Dminor6 | Dminor7 | Dminor9 D diminished | D diminished 7th D augmented | D augmented 7th D sus2 D sus4

03 of 07

Left Hand E Minor Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

E minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: E Minor Third: G Perfect Fifth: B

The E minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

E minor (chord i) / G major (chord vi)A minor (chord v) / C major (chord iii)B minor (chord iv) / D major (ii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Emajor | Emajor6 | Emajor7 | Emajor9 Eminor | Eminor6 | Eminor7 | Eminor9 E diminished | E diminished 7th E augmented | E augmented 7th E sus2 E sus4

04 of 07

Left Hand F Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

F major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: F Major Third: A Perfect Fifth: C

The F major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

F major (chord I) / D minor (chord III)C major (chord IV) / A minor (chord VI)Bb major (chord V) / G minor (chord VII)

Switch bass chord type: 

Fmajor | Fmajor6 | Fmajor7 | Fmajor9 Fminor | Fminor6 | Fminor7 | Fminor9 F diminished | F diminished 7th F augmented | F augmented 7th F sus2 F sus4

05 of 07

Left Hand G Major Piano Triads

Brandy Kraemer

G major bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: G Major Third: B Perfect Fifth: D

The G major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

G major (chord I) / E minor (chord III)C major (chord V) / A minor (chord VII)D major (chord IV) / B minor (chord VI)

Switch bass chord type: 

Gmajor | Gmajor6 | Gmajor7 | Gmajor9 Gminor | Gminor6 | Gminor7 | Gminor9 G diminished | G diminished 7th G augmented | G augmented 7th G sus2 G sus4

06 of 07

Left Hand A Minor Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

A minor bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: A Minor Third: C Perfect Fifth: E

The A minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

A minor (chord i) / C major (chord vi)E minor (chord iv) / G major (chord ii)D minor (chord v) / F major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

Amajor | Amajor6 | Amajor7 | Amajor9 Aminor | Aminor6 | Aminor7 | Aminor9 A diminished | A diminished 7th A augmented | A augmented 7th A sus2 A sus4

07 of 07

Left Hand B Diminished Piano Triads

Image © Brandy Kraemer, 2016

B diminished bass triads with treble fingering:

Root Note: B Minor Third: D Diminished Fifth: F B° occurs naturally in the key of C major (chord vii°) / A minor (chord ii°)

Mood of Diminished Chords:

A diminished chord’s character is ambiguous at best. When heard alone, they can sound eerie, goofy, or even annoying. Within music, they create the desire for tonal resolution, and tend to “leave the listener hanging”:

Switch bass chord type: 

Bmajor | Bmajor6 | Bmajor7 | Bmajor9 Bminor | Bminor6 | Bminor7 | Bminor9 B diminished | B diminished 7th B augmented | B augmented 7th B sus2 B sus4

01 of 07

Left Hand C Major Piano Triads

C major bass triads with treble fingering:

01 of 07

01

of 07

  • Root Note: C
  • Major Third: E
  • Perfect Fifth: G

The C major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

  • C major (chord I) / A minor (chord III)G major (chord IV) / E minor (chord VI)F major (chord V) / D minor (chord VII)

Switch Bass Chord Type: 

  • Cmajor | Cmajor6 | Cmajor7 | Cmajor9
  • Cminor | Cminor6 | Cminor7 | Cminor9
  • C diminished | C diminished 7th
  • C augmented | C augmented 7th
  • C sus2
  • C sus4

02 of 07

Left Hand D Minor Piano Triads

D minor bass triads with treble fingering:

02 of 07

02

  • Root Note: D
  • Minor Third: F
  • Perfect Fifth: A

The D minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

  • D minor (chord i) / F major (chord vi)A minor (chord iv) / C major (chord ii)G minor (chord v) / Bb major (chord iii)

Switch bass chord type: 

  • Dmajor | Dmajor6 | Dmajor7 | Dmajor9
  • Dminor | Dminor6 | Dminor7 | Dminor9
  • D diminished | D diminished 7th
  • D augmented | D augmented 7th
  • D sus2
  • D sus4

03 of 07

Left Hand E Minor Piano Triads

E minor bass triads with treble fingering:

03 of 07

03

  • Root Note: E
  • Minor Third: G
  • Perfect Fifth: B

The E minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

  • E minor (chord i) / G major (chord vi)A minor (chord v) / C major (chord iii)B minor (chord iv) / D major (ii)

  • Emajor | Emajor6 | Emajor7 | Emajor9

  • Eminor | Eminor6 | Eminor7 | Eminor9

  • E diminished | E diminished 7th

  • E augmented | E augmented 7th

  • E sus2

  • E sus4

04 of 07

Left Hand F Major Piano Triads

F major bass triads with treble fingering:

04 of 07

04

  • Root Note: F
  • Major Third: A
  • Perfect Fifth: C

The F major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

  • F major (chord I) / D minor (chord III)C major (chord IV) / A minor (chord VI)Bb major (chord V) / G minor (chord VII)

  • Fmajor | Fmajor6 | Fmajor7 | Fmajor9

  • Fminor | Fminor6 | Fminor7 | Fminor9

  • F diminished | F diminished 7th

  • F augmented | F augmented 7th

  • F sus2

  • F sus4

05 of 07

Left Hand G Major Piano Triads

G major bass triads with treble fingering:

05 of 07

05

  • Root Note: G
  • Major Third: B
  • Perfect Fifth: D

The G major chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

  • G major (chord I) / E minor (chord III)C major (chord V) / A minor (chord VII)D major (chord IV) / B minor (chord VI)

  • Gmajor | Gmajor6 | Gmajor7 | Gmajor9

  • Gminor | Gminor6 | Gminor7 | Gminor9

  • G diminished | G diminished 7th

  • G augmented | G augmented 7th

  • G sus2

  • G sus4

06 of 07

Left Hand A Minor Piano Triads

A minor bass triads with treble fingering:

06 of 07

06

  • Root Note: A
  • Minor Third: C
  • Perfect Fifth: E

The A minor chord occurs naturally in the following keys:

  • A minor (chord i) / C major (chord vi)E minor (chord iv) / G major (chord ii)D minor (chord v) / F major (chord iii)

  • Amajor | Amajor6 | Amajor7 | Amajor9

  • Aminor | Aminor6 | Aminor7 | Aminor9

  • A diminished | A diminished 7th

  • A augmented | A augmented 7th

  • A sus2

  • A sus4

07 of 07

Left Hand B Diminished Piano Triads

B diminished bass triads with treble fingering:

07 of 07

07

  • Root Note: B
  • Minor Third: D
  • Diminished Fifth: F
  • B° occurs naturally in the key of C major (chord vii°) / A minor (chord ii°)

Mood of Diminished Chords:

A diminished chord’s character is ambiguous at best. When heard alone, they can sound eerie, goofy, or even annoying. Within music, they create the desire for tonal resolution, and tend to “leave the listener hanging”:

  • Bmajor | Bmajor6 | Bmajor7 | Bmajor9
  • Bminor | Bminor6 | Bminor7 | Bminor9
  • B diminished | B diminished 7th
  • B augmented | B augmented 7th
  • B sus2
  • B sus4