Diatonic Chords are chords built from a specific key without any alterations which means every single note (chord tones) of each chord must belong to the current key.
In the Key of C Major for instance, the “1 chord” is CEG (C Major Triad) and this is diatonic (belongs) to the key of C Major.
But if we said C Eb G (C minor triad), this is NOT diatonic because of the middle note is altered by including “E flat” which doesn’t in any way belong to the C scale.
Another example is the “2 chord” which is the D minor triad (DFA) , this is diatonic to the key of C because the chord tones D,F and A; all belong to the C major scale. However, if you wrote “DF#A” you would be wrong because “F” has been altered by including the accidental “#” and “F#” doesn’t belong to the C major scale.
That being said, here are the diatonic chords in the key of C Major.
Diatonic Chords in C Major
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C major (I) — C – E – G
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D minor (ii) — D – F – A
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E minor (iii) — E – G – B
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F major (IV) — F – A – C
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G major (V) — G – B – D
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A minor (vi) — A – C – E
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B diminished (vii°) — B – D – F
Please note:
The I,IV and V chords are Major triads.
The ii,iii and vi are Minor triads.
The vii is a diminished triad.
This template stands for every single diatonic chords in any key of your choice.
Drill:
- Write out the the diatonic triads in Key F.
- What is the V in key A Major?
- Spell out the ii,iii and vi in key B Major.
- What is the vii in key Eb Major?