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Guitar chords and chord finder

Guitar chords: pick a root note and chord type – the chord diagram appears instantly, with up to six voicings across the neck and suggested fingering. Tap Listen to check that it sounds right.

Source: Open Music Theory (Gotham et al.) – Triads: major = M3 + P5, minor = m3 + P5, diminished, augmented. Updated: .

C

C – E – G

Tap a diagram to hear that exact voicing.

Numbers in the dots: fingers (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky).

Common chord progressions in C

    Identify a chord: tap the frets

    Tap the fret you are holding on each string. The top row switches between × (not played) and ○ (open string).

    My Toolbox

    Result

    How it is calculated

    In short: A chord is at least three notes stacked at set intervals above a root: a major chord adds a major third and a perfect fifth (C major: C, E, G), a minor chord a minor third and a fifth (A minor: A, C, E). This chord finder calculates guitar and ukulele shapes for every root and 16 chord types, shows the piano keys, and plays each chord right in your browser.

    How to use it

    1. Choose the root note, e.g. G.
    2. Choose the chord type: major, minor, 7th, maj7, sus4 …
    3. Choose the instrument. For guitar and ukulele up to six voicings in several positions appear, easiest first.
    4. Tap “Listen” or a diagram. “Picked” plays one note at a time – handy for checking each finger.

    How to read a chord diagram

    Vertical lines are strings, with the low E string on the left. Horizontal lines are frets, with the nut at the top. A dot shows where a finger presses; ○ means play the string open, × means don’t play it. A long bar is a barre – one finger pressing several strings at the same fret. A number on the left tells you which fret the diagram starts at.

    How the shapes are found

    The shapes are not copied from a chart – they are calculated. For every position up to the 12th fret, the program tries every combination of open, fretted and muted strings. A shape counts if all required chord tones sound, it needs four fingers or fewer, and on guitar the root is the lowest note; in four-note chords the fifth may be left out, as players usually do. Pitches use equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz (ISO 16). The guitar sound is generated with Karplus-Strong synthesis (1983), a model of a vibrating string – not a recording.

    Tunings, capo, left-handed view and reverse chord finder

    Besides standard tuning, guitar shapes can be calculated for Drop D, DADGAD, Open G, Open D and a half step down. With a capo (fret 1 to 7) the diagrams count from the capo and the tool names the shape you play – with a capo on fret 2, the G shape sounds as A. The left-handed view mirrors every diagram. Below the diagrams you find common progressions in the key (I–IV–V, I–V–vi–IV, ii–V–I); tap a chord to see and hear it. The reverse chord finder works the other way round: tap the frets you are holding and the chord name appears, as a slash chord such as C/E when another note is in the bass.

    Honest limits

    “Easiest first” is a calculation, not a teacher’s opinion: common shapes like C, G, D, Am and Em come first, but rare chords may show unusual voicings. The fingering is a suggestion based on “lower fret, lower finger”. The chord finder does not propose inversions or slash chords (C/E) – but the reverse lookup recognises them. Tune your instrument first, for example with the guitar tuner.

    Frequently asked questions

    What guitar chords should beginners learn first?

    Usually E minor, A minor, C, G and D major, plus E and A major. These open chords cover a huge number of songs. F major comes later because it needs a barre.

    How do you play an F chord on guitar?

    The full version is a barre at the 1st fret: your index finger presses all strings and the other fingers form an E-major shape above it. The easier version uses only the four high strings (xx3211).

    What do 7, maj7 and sus4 mean?

    7 adds the minor seventh (G7: G, B, D, F), maj7 adds the major seventh (Cmaj7: C, E, G, B). In sus4 the fourth replaces the third (Dsus4: D, G, A), which sounds open and wants to resolve.

    What is a power chord?

    Just the root and the fifth (plus often the octave), written as 5 – e.g. E5. It is neither major nor minor and is used a lot in rock with distortion.

    Does it work for ukulele chords?

    Yes, for standard G C E A tuning (soprano, concert, tenor). C (0003), Am (2000), F (2010) and G (0232) come up first.

    Why doesn’t the sound match my guitar exactly?

    The sound is synthesized in the browser (Karplus-Strong), not recorded. The pitches are correct, the tone is simplified. Headphones sound better than a phone speaker.

    Sources and legal basis

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