Chord Calculator analyzes and identifies chords, suggesting names and symbols for them. It not only answers the question, “What chord is this?” It gives you all the possibilities and shows the role that each note plays. (For help understanding chords and chord symbols, read How Chord Symbols Work.) To analyze or identify a chord, select 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!