HelpCalc Music

Chord Workstation

Tap a fretboard to identify chords in real time. Supports capo and alternate readings. Works with guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, mandolin and piano.

Chord Diagram
××××××
Fret positionFrets 1 – 5

Tap the X/○ above each string to mute or open. Tap a fret cell to place or remove a finger.

Identified Chord
Tap the fretboard to identify a chord.
Exporting chord on 6-String Guitar in E A D G B E
Instrument: 6-String Guitar
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: None

How to Use This Chord Identifier

  1. Tap the fretboard to place or remove a finger at any fret.
  2. Toggle open/muted strings by tapping the X or ○ above the nut. X means muted; ○ means the string rings open.
  3. Read the chord name that appears to the right. The top match is the most likely reading, with alternatives listed below.
  4. Set a capo to see how the chord name transposes when you clamp across a fret.
  5. Turn on the Notes or Intervals overlay to see the notes or scale-degree function (R, 3, 5, b7, etc.) of each tone you're playing.
  6. Slide the fret position to explore chord shapes higher up the neck.
  7. Type a chord name in the search field to look up playable voicings, and click a mini-diagram to load it.

Barre Chords & Moveable Shapes

A barre chord uses a single finger pressed flat across multiple strings at one fret, while the other fingers form a chord shape above it. The tool highlights any barre it detects.

When a shape uses no open strings, it's called a moveable shape: slide the whole thing up or down the neck to change the key. The classic E-shape (like F at fret 1) and A-shape barre chords are the backbone of playing in every key.

Jazz & Extended Chords

The identifier recognizes 42 chord qualities, from simple triads through jazz extensions (9, 11, 13), altered dominants (7b9, 7#9, alt), and add chords (add9, 6/9). These colorful chords are the building blocks of jazz, neo-soul, and sophisticated pop.

  • 9 chords: Dominant 7 with an added 9th. Common in funk.
  • 11 chords: Usually played without the 3rd, because the 3rd clashes with the 11th a minor 9th above it. That makes most 11 chords a 9sus4 in practice.
  • 13 chords: Full dominant extension with a 13th (6th) on top. Bluesy and smooth.
  • Altered dominants (7alt): Dominant 7 with a raised/lowered 5th or 9th. Tense, resolving to the tonic.

Understanding Guitar Chords

What is a chord?

A chord is three or more notes played together. Chords give music its harmonic texture. They're the backdrop behind melodies. A pair of notes is technically called an interval; add a third note and you have a chord.

How chords are named

Every chord has a root note (the note it's “built on”) and a quality describing the intervals between the notes:

  • Major (C, G, D): bright, stable. Built from the root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th.
  • Minor (Am, Em, Dm): darker, introspective. The 3rd is lowered by a half step.
  • Seventh (G7, Am7, Cmaj7): add a fourth note for richer color. Dominant 7 chords want to resolve; major 7 chords feel jazzy and dreamy.
  • Suspended (Dsus2, Asus4): replace the 3rd with a 2nd or 4th, creating unresolved tension.
  • Diminished and Augmented: Diminished is a minor 3rd and a flat 5th. Augmented is a major 3rd and a sharp 5th. Both are usually passing chords.

Slash chords

When the lowest note of a chord isn't the root, it's written as a slash chord. “C/G” means a C major chord with G, its 5th, in the bass. It is common as a passing chord and just before a G chord at a cadence. The open C shape is not a slash chord, but open D with a low F# is D/F#.

How a capo works

A capo is a clamp that presses down all the strings at one fret, raising the pitch of every string by that number of semitones. The same chord shapes produce different chords when you capo up. Open G shapes with the capo at fret 2 sound in A; with capo at fret 5, they sound in C.

Common Open Chord Reference

The open shapes most songs start from:

  • Major: C, A, G, E, D, plus F, which is really a partial barre
  • Minor: Am, Dm, Em
  • Seventh: A7, B7, C7, D7, E7, G7
  • Suspended: Dsus2, Dsus4, Asus2, Asus4
  • Major 7: Amaj7, Cmaj7, Dmaj7, Fmaj7, Gmaj7

Reading a Chord Diagram

  • Strings run vertically. The leftmost string is the lowest-pitched (thickest); the rightmost is the highest-pitched (thinnest).
  • Frets run horizontally. The top line is the nut (or the capo, if set).
  • X above a string means don't play that string.
  • O above a string means play that string open.
  • Dots on the fretboard show where to press.

Chord Progressions & Roman Numerals

A chord progression is a sequence of chords played in order, the harmonic backbone of a song. Most pop, rock, folk, country, and jazz songs are built on a handful of common progressions, just in different keys.

Musicians often describe progressions with Roman numerals(the Nashville Number System is a similar shorthand). The numerals represent the position of each chord within a key: uppercase for major chords, lowercase for minor. In the key of C, I = C, ii = Dm, iii = Em, IV = F, V = G, vi = Am, vii° = Bdim. So “I – V – vi – IV” in C is C – G – Am – F, one of the most-used pop progressions of all time.

The built-in progression builder supports common templates (Pop, Jazz ii-V-I, 12-bar blues, and more). Changing the key transposes every chord automatically.

Scales That Fit a Chord

The panel lists scales that contain every note of the chord. That is a starting point, not a verdict: the right choice also depends on the key and the chords around it. Dm7 in C major wants D Dorian, even though D natural minor also contains it. The tool shows compatible scales for the current chord below the chord detail panel. Chord tones are highlighted so you can see which notes the chord is built from within each scale.

Rules of thumb for improvising:

  • Over a major chord, try the Major scale or the Major Pentatonic of the same root.
  • Over a minor chord, try the Natural Minor or Minor Pentatonic.
  • Over a dominant 7 (like G7), Mixolydian is the classic choice.
  • Over a blues, the Minor Pentatonic or Blues scale works on every chord in a standard 12-bar.

In a ii-V-I in C, Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7 all sit in C major. You do not need three scales, but aim for the note that changes: F to E as G7 goes to Cmaj7.

Saving & Sharing Chords

Click Save chord to store the current chord in your browser. Favorites persist across sessions on your device. You can rename, delete, or export them as a JSON file for backup, and re-import later.

Every change you make updates the URL. Click Copy link to copy a shareable URL that encodes your exact instrument, tuning, capo, and fingering. Anyone who opens the link sees the same chord.

You can also download the chord diagram as SVG or PNG, or print a clean paper-friendly version for reference or teaching.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chord am I playing?

Tap the frets on the diagram to match your fingering. The chord identifier analyzes the notes and shows the most likely chord name plus alternatives that share the same notes.

Why does it show multiple chord names?

Some sets of notes have more than one valid name. A-C-E-G can be Am7 (A minor 7th) or C6 (C major 6th). The identifier picks the reading where the bass note is the root, and shows other interpretations below.

How does the capo affect chord names?

A capo raises all open strings by the number of frets it covers. An open C shape with a capo at fret 2 actually sounds as a D chord. The identifier accounts for the capo when naming the chord.

Can I use this for alternate tunings?

Yes. Six-string guitar has Standard, Drop D, DADGAD, Open G, Open D, Open E, and half-step and whole-step down tunings, and the Custom option lets you set each string yourself. The instrument menu also covers piano, 7-string and 8-string guitar, 4-string and 5-string bass, ukulele, 5-string banjo, and mandolin, each with its own tunings except piano.

What does “No chord identified” mean?

The current set of notes doesn't match any standard chord quality. This happens with unusual note combinations. Try muting one string or moving a finger.

What is a chord progression?

A sequence of chords played in order. Progressions create the harmonic structure of a song. The progression builder lets you assemble, transpose, and play chord sequences at any tempo.

What do Roman numerals mean in music?

Roman numerals represent chord positions within a key. Uppercase = major, lowercase = minor. “I-IV-V” in the key of C means C-F-G.

How do I know which scale to play over a chord?

The scale compatibility panel shows which scales contain all the notes of your chord. Start with the pentatonic that matches the chord: major pentatonic over a major chord, minor pentatonic over a minor chord.

Can I save my chord diagrams?

Yes. Click the Save button to store chords to your browser's local storage. Export your favorites as a JSON file for backup across devices.

How do I share a chord with someone?

Click “Copy link”. The URL encodes your exact fingering, instrument, tuning, and capo. Anyone who opens the link sees the same chord.

Is this tool free?

Yes. All the computation runs in your browser. No account, no payment.

Notes & Disclaimers

  • The same notes can have more than one correct name. The bass and the key usually decide which name you use.
  • Bass note matters. The lowest sounding note heavily influences how a chord is heard and named.
  • Enharmonic spelling. Spelling follows the chord's own notes. See How we check the music.

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