Forty-Eight Chords, once each

Every triad and dominant seventh in the twelve keys, placed so that position carries meaning. Twelve spokes in fifths, four rings by quality — no chord appears twice.

Relationships

Spotlight a key

Selection

The four rings

Inner — tonic major. The key itself.

Second — relative minor. Sits directly outside its major.

Third — dominant seventh. Placed on the spoke it resolves to.

Outer — augmented. Twelve spellings, four actual chords.

Why nothing repeats. A dominant seventh lives on the spoke of the key it resolves to, so G7 can only be drawn once — above C. Every radial line out from the centre is one tonal centre: C · Am · G7 · C+.

The outer ring is a trick. An augmented triad divides the octave evenly, so the twelve names on ring four are only four chords. Turn on Enharmonic family to see the four triangles.

Click any chord to hear it. Click a key name to hear its ii–V–I. Structure after the diagram in Brian Calli's Armonía Ilustrada, redrawn.