If you're looking for PDF downloads with all must-know major key information, you're in luck! Below are links to the recommended cheat sheets tackling this topic. At the moment, each PDF sheet is its own separate download... in the future I may combine them all into one massive file. Enjoy!
A vast majority of popular guitar music is played in the Keys of C, G, D, A, or E major. These keys each have relatively easy-to-play chord voicings in the first few frets, which make it quite practical for beginner or intermediate guitarists to create cool-sounding music without too much difficulty.
For each of these keys, I have a stand-alone PDF handbook with plenty of helpful information for that key — presented neatly over multiple pages. Download each key’s handbook using the links below:
Similar to the cheat sheets above, I made another PDF guide showing you the most commonly used chords in each key. This keeps things practical, including some of the non-diatonic chords you’ll commonly use in each key. This PDF is especially helpful as a 1-page cheat sheet, if you want a single diagram to refer to when in a hurry.
If you’re a completionist, I have another PDF looking at all the notes and chords found in each of the 12 major keys… diminished chords included! This one is a bit more dense, information-wise… but I’m happy to share it here in case this is the key to the puzzle you’re looking for.
If you’re interested in learning more about how the 7 notes in each major key are determined, I explain this in my Practical Music Theory course. The vital thing to understand is it’s just one single pattern that every major scale is built with, no matter the key! Take any starting note, apply the major scale recipe, and voila — it gives you the notes in that key’s major scale. From there, we can build chords upon each key, and start making music.
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