Look up any piano chord,
scale, or interval
Hear how it sounds, see it on the keyboard, and understand the theory behind it.
Piano Chords
Every chord voicing with notes, fingerings, and intervals — from basic triads to extended jazz chords.
All 798 chords →Piano Scales
Major, minor, pentatonic, blues, modal, and exotic scales with diagrams and related chords.
C Major ScaleG Major ScaleA Natural Minor ScaleA Minor PentatonicD Major ScaleA Blues ScaleA Harmonic MinorF Major ScaleD Dorian ModeC Major PentatonicG Mixolydian ModeA Melodic Minor
All 449 scales →Music Intervals
The distance between two notes — the building blocks of every chord and scale.
Learn Music Theory
Work through our guides in order, or jump to the topic you need.
- 01Notes & PitchHow piano notes, octaves, and pitch relate to each other
- 02IntervalsThe building blocks of melody and harmony
- 03ScalesPatterns of notes that form the basis of music
- 04ChordsHow notes combine to create harmony
- 05Keys & TonalityHow scales and chords work together in a key
- 06Circle of FifthsThe relationship between all 12 musical keys
Chord Progressions
See how chords work together in sequences. Explore common progressions from pop, jazz, blues, and classical music.
Explore Progressions →Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the basic piano chords every beginner should learn?
- Every beginner should start with the major chords C, F, and G, followed by the minor chords Am, Dm, and Em. These six chords form the foundation of hundreds of popular songs and help build finger strength and muscle memory for more advanced chord shapes.
- What is the difference between a major and minor scale?
- A major scale follows the interval pattern whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H), creating a bright, happy sound. A minor scale uses a different pattern (W-H-W-W-H-W-W for natural minor), producing a darker, more melancholic sound. The key difference is the third note, which is lowered by a half step in minor scales.
- How many piano chords are there?
- There are hundreds of piano chords when you consider every key and chord quality. The basic categories include major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads (3-note chords), plus seventh chords, ninth chords, suspended chords, and extended chords. Piano Owl covers over 800 chord voicings across all 12 keys.
- What are intervals in music theory?
- An interval is the distance in pitch between two notes. Intervals are measured in half steps (semitones) and named by their quality and number, such as major third, perfect fifth, or minor seventh. Understanding intervals is essential for building chords, reading sheet music, and training your ear to recognize melodies and harmonies.
- What is the best way to learn piano scales?
- Start with the C major scale since it uses only white keys. Practice hands separately, then together. Once comfortable, learn G major and F major (one sharp and one flat respectively). Focus on proper fingering from the start, as this builds technique that transfers to every other scale. Use a metronome and gradually increase speed.
- What is a chord progression?
- A chord progression is a sequence of chords played in order that forms the harmonic foundation of a piece of music. Common progressions include I-IV-V-I (used in rock and blues), I-V-vi-IV (used in pop), and ii-V-I (used in jazz). Learning standard progressions helps you play songs by ear and compose your own music.