The chords
Every chord links to its full reference page — notes, keyboard diagram, audio, fingering, and inversions.
Which key is it in?
A progression's key is the one whose scale contains all of its chords, and the Roman numerals below are each chord's job in that key. When several keys qualify, the ear usually decides by where the music comes to rest.
| Key | Roman numerals | Named pattern |
|---|---|---|
| F major | I – IV – V | The three-chord skeleton |
| D minor | ♭III – ♭VI – ♭VII | Not a named pattern |
Why The three-chord skeleton works
Tonic, subdominant, dominant — the three primary chords. This is the harmonic backbone under folk, blues, country, and early rock.
The full The three-chord skeleton reference → covers variations, songs built on it, and the pattern in every key.