Chord Identifier

Choose the notes on a piano, name the bass if you know it, and see every common chord that fits.

Choose the notes you hear

Press two to six different piano keys.

Selected pitches

C · E · G

Exact note match

C

major

C · E · G

Piano
Guitar

Plays the notes you selected, not a guessed voicing.

How to identify a chord by its notes

  1. 1. Choose the notes. Press each different note you hear on the one-octave piano. Octave doubles count as the same pitch.
  2. 2. Add the bass when it matters. If you know the lowest note, select it to rank roots and label inversions more clearly.
  3. 3. Read every exact name. One pitch set can describe more than one chord. When there is no exact result, the tool shows common chords one note away.

Why the same notes can have multiple chord names

A chord name describes how a set of notes functions around a root, not just which piano keys are present. C–E–G–A, for example, supports both C6 and Am7. Symmetrical diminished and augmented chords can have even more valid roots. The identifier keeps those alternatives visible so musical context can decide between them.

Chord roots, bass notes, and inversions

The root gives a chord its name; the bass is simply its lowest sounding note. They match in root position. When another chord tone is lowest, the result is an inversion and slash notation records it — C major over E appears as C/E. Leave bass unspecified when you only know the pitch set.

Supported chord types

Common triads include major, minor, diminished, augmented, sus2, and sus4. Extended matches include sixths, sevenths, added ninths, ninths, half-diminished sevenths, diminished sevenths, and 7sus4 chords across all 12 roots.

FAQ

Does note order matter?
No. The identifier compares pitch classes, so C–E–G and G–C–E contain the same notes. Choose a bass note separately when the lowest note matters.
How do inversions and bass notes work?
Choose the lowest sounding note in the optional bass control. Root-position names are ranked first, while a different chord root is shown with slash notation such as C/E.
Why can the same notes have more than one chord name?
Some pitch sets have multiple valid roots or functions. For example, C–E–G–A can be C6 or Am7, so the tool keeps both names instead of hiding the ambiguity.
What does sharps versus flats change?
Only the note spelling changes. The selected pitches and chord matches stay the same, while a note such as C-sharp can be displayed as D-flat.
Which chord types are supported?
The matcher covers major, minor, diminished, augmented, suspended, sixth, seventh, added-ninth, ninth, half-diminished, and diminished-seventh families.
Is the chord identifier free and private?
Yes. It is free, requires no account, and identifies and plays your selected notes in the browser without uploading them.

Explore more

  • Progression Generator — arrange common chords, hear them, and export MIDI.
  • Free Play — play General MIDI instruments in your browser.
  • Songs — browse arrangements to hear, play, and practice.