Chord Calculator analyzes and identifies chords, suggesting names and symbols for them. (For help understanding chords and chord symbols, read How Chord Symbols Work.) Begin specifying the notes of a chord by selecting an entry method:
While Chord Calculator can analyze anything from simple triads to complex chords, it is not a substitute for proper chord analysis, which should always take context into consideration. It will liberally accept a wide range of input and do its best to find a matching chord symbol, even if there is no third or fifth. Two or more notes of unique pitch class constitute a “chord” that can be analyzed.
- The interpretation of input is always literal and formal, as are the results. For example, an A7(♯9) chord has a B♯ in it—never a C—even though a reasonable person may write it that way in practice. Likewise, a dominant 13th has all the members present (root, 3, 5, ♭7, 9, 11, and 13), even though it may be played with a variety of members omitted in practice.
- Chord Calculator neither recognizes nor proposes rootless chords.
- Chord Calculator is designed for close harmony and does not recognize or propose slash chords. For example, F♯ + G + B + D will be Gmaj7 in 3rd inversion, even if the F♯ is over an octave lower than G and “obviously” part of a descending bass line. If you don’t want Chord Calculator to consider the F♯ because you’re planning to write the chord as something over F♯, simply leave it out of the analysis.
- While the symbols given by Chord Calculator will unambiguously tell you the pitch classes within a chord, some are better than others. What to call a chord is, in many cases, subjective, and the chord symbol system is not perfect. Remember, chord symbols are meant to make things easier, not harder. That’s one of the reasons why the most complicated symbols appear low in the results. However, if you see something that’s definitely wrong, please say something!
Chord Calculator represents a great deal of work and expense, and I’m pleased that it is used hundreds of times a day. If you find it useful and would like to see it remain ad-free, I invite you to add my music to your playlists (or buy it on Bandcamp). If it’s not to your taste, then please consider buying me a coffee. Thank you!
#standard
#right
Fret: #X
Note: #N
Select a combination of pitch classes that belong to your chord and Chord Calculator will build a list of possible chord symbols to match your entry. When choosing from the Generic Pitch Class column, any and all enharmonics will be considered. When choosing from the Specific Pitch Class column, only the selected pitch classes will be used. Note that double accidentals cannot be selected as the root of a chord.
| Root | Generic Pitch Class |
Specific Pitch Class |
|---|---|---|
Enter the symbol you’d like to analyze. You can use lowercase b and # as substitutes for the ♭ and ♯ characters. You can use lowercase o, °, or dim to indicate diminished chords. You can use ø, hd, or minor seven ♭5 notation to indicate half diminished chords. You can use lowercase m, −, or min for minor. To indicate major sevenths, you can use uppercase M, maj, or △. To indicate augmented chords, use + or aug. However you enter a chord, it’ll be rewritten using the current chord symbol preferences. (To edit those preferences, click the Options button.) Chord Calculator may optimize or rearrange the chord symbol you’ve entered. For example, D(add4omit3) is accepted, but D(sus4) is returned. Also, some input is ambiguous. For example, G4 could mean G(add4), G(sus4omit5) or G(sus4) in practice, but Chord Calculator will assume a full suspended chord is intended. Another possible area of ambiguity is an accidental that appears between the root note letter and a numeral. In this case, Chord Calculator will always apply the accidental to the root note letter. For example, F♯11 will be interpreted as an F♯ dominant eleventh chord, not an F chord with a sharp eleventh. To make the distinction, you would need to use parentheses around the ♯11.
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| 13th | |||||||||||
| Chord Symbol | Inversion | Triadic Quality |
Voicing | Confidence | Action |
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