Chord Identifier
REVERSE FINDER
Stuck on a chord? Click the notes on the high-fidelity neck below and our engine will identify it instantly, including root notes and intervals.
How the Reverse Chord Finder Works
Our reverse chord finder (also known as a chord identifier) uses advanced harmonic analysis to scan the notes you've selected and match them against thousands of known chord structures. It doesn't just look for exact matches; it understands music theory to identify inversions, suspended chords, and complex jazz extensions.
Whether you're writing a new song or trying to transcribe a difficult piece, simply click the frets on the virtual guitar neck to see the chord name, its notes, and even hear how it sounds with our built-in audio engine.
The visual interface is highly interactive, allowing you to select and deselect frets across multiple strings. Once a chord is recognized, the tool also displays the constituent pitches, providing a useful way to study chord composition, intervals, and harmonic movement.
Pro Tip: Interconnected Search
Once you've identified a chord, you can switch back to the Chord Library to explore alternate voicings for that same chord across the entire fretboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I read a guitar chord diagram?
A guitar chord diagram represents the first few frets of the guitar neck. Vertical lines are the strings (Low E on the left, High E on the right), and horizontal lines are the frets. Dots show you where to put your fingers, and numbers inside the dots often indicate which finger to use (1 = index, 4 = pinky). An 'O' above a string means it is played open, while an 'X' means it should be muted or not played. Mastering these diagrams is the first step toward playing thousands of songs.
What is a barre chord and how do I play it?
A barre chord is a type of guitar chord where you use your index finger to press down multiple strings across a single fret, acting like a moveable nut (capo). This allows you to play the same chord shape at different positions on the neck to produce different chords. For example, a standard 'E' shape barred at the 1st fret becomes an 'F' chord. While barre chords require significant finger strength and practice to get clean notes, they are essential for moving beyond basic open position playing.
What is the difference between a major and minor chord?
The fundamental difference between a major and minor chord lies in the third scale degree. A major chord consists of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of a major scale, creating a 'happy' or 'bright' sound. In a minor chord, the 3rd is lowered by one semitone (a minor third), which results in a 'sad,' 'dark,' or 'serious' sound. This single note change completely alters the emotional quality of the chord and is the basis for most western harmony and songwriting.
What does the '7' mean in chords like G7 or Cmaj7?
The '7' indicates that the chord includes the seventh note of the scale in addition to the root, third, and fifth. A '7' (dominant seventh) uses a flattened 7th degree and has a 'bluesy' or 'unresolved' tension. A 'maj7' (major seventh) uses a natural 7th degree, creating a 'lush,' 'jazzy,' or 'dreamy' sound. These chords add more 'color' and complexity to your playing than standard triads and are used extensively in jazz, blues, soul, and sophisticated pop music.
How do I find chords for alternative tunings?
Finding chords in alternative tunings like Drop D, DADGAD, or Open G requires relearning your fingerings, as the intervals between the strings have changed. Our interactive Chord Finder tool allows you to select your specific tuning and will automatically recalculate the correct finger positions for any chord name. This is an invaluable resource for exploring the unique sonic possibilities of 'open' or 'dropped' tunings without having to memorize entirely new chord dictionaries for every configuration you use.
What is a 'sus' (suspended) chord?
A suspended chord replaces the 'third' (the note that makes a chord major or minor) with either a second (sus2) or a fourth (sus4). Because it lacks a major or minor third, the chord sounds 'open' and 'unresolved,' creating a sense of tension that typically wants to resolve back to a standard major or minor chord. Sus chords are frequently used in rock and pop (like the intro to 'Pinball Wizard') to add rhythmic interest and a feeling of forward motion to a progression.
What are guitar chord inversions?
An inversion is a chord where a note other than the 'root' is the lowest sounding note (the bass note). For example, a C major chord (C, E, G) with the E in the bass is called a 'first inversion.' Inversions are used to create smoother bass lines between chords or to provide a different 'voicing' of the same harmony. In guitar music, these are often written as 'slash chords,' such as C/E, which tells the player to play a C major chord with an E on the bottom.
How many guitar chords are there in total?
Mathematically, there are thousands of possible ways to combine notes on a guitar fretboard to create chords. However, most guitarists focus on a few hundred essential shapes across common categories like major, minor, dominant, and diminished. Our library provides access to the most musically useful voicings for every common chord type, organized by difficulty and position on the neck. Instead of trying to learn every possible combination, it is better to master the core shapes and understand the theory behind how they are constructed.
What is an 'add9' chord vs a '9' chord?
An 'add9' chord is a standard major or minor triad with the 9th degree added to it, but without the 7th. It has a very 'clean' and 'pretty' sound. A '9' chord (like C9) is a dominant 7th chord with the 9th degree added on top. The inclusion of the 7th gives the '9' chord a much 'funkier' or 'jazziest' tension than the 'add9.' Knowing the difference is important for matching the style of the song—think 'Every Breath You Take' (add9) versus James Brown (9th chords).
What does the 'X' and 'O' mean on a chord chart?
On a chord chart, an 'O' above a string indicates an 'open' string that should be played without pressing any frets. An 'X' above a string means that string should not be played at all, either by muting it with a finger or simply avoiding it with your pick. Correctly muting the 'X' strings is vital for a clean sound, as playing an unwanted open string can introduce 'wrong' notes that clash with the harmony of the chord you are trying to play.