Chord Identification App?

[SixStringSlinger]

I'm looking for a simple app for finding/identifying chords. I want to be able to look up chords by name and find both the notes that constitute the chord and various fretting diagrams. I also want to be able to plug in note names so it can give me options (depending on context, of course) for what the chord I plug in can be called.

As simple as possible a layout is preferred, up to the point of paying a few bucks to avoid ads if need be.

I already have pretty good tuning and metronome apps, so no need for a do-it-all app.

What have you got?

 

[loopfinding]

https://www.scales-chords.com/chordid.php

Does an okay job I think? Sometimes the names get very convoluted for slash chords. And for subs and rootless chords it's hard for it to tell you the context.

To tell you the truth, I think it’s easier just to learn triad and 7th chord construction and then just familiarize yourself with the sound of the upper extensions or alterations. learn it in C and then transpose later.

CDEFGAB is a c major scale. the chords are constructed in thirds, so every other note.

triads would be CEG, DFA, EGB, FAC, GBD, ACE, BDF
maj, min, min, maj, maj, min, dim
root-3-5, root-b3-5, root-b3-5, root-3-5, root-3-5, root-b3-5, root-b3-b5

for 7ths you add another CEGB, DFAC, EGBD, FACE, GBDF, ACEG, BDFA
maj7, min7, min7, maj7, 7th, min7, half dim (or min7b5)
root-3-5-7, root-b3-5-b7, root-b3-5-b7, root-3-5-7, root-3-5-b7, root-b3-5-b7, root-b3-b5-b7

and then of course keep going for 9, 11, 13.

also notice the top three notes in that CEGB (Cmaj7) - it's an Eminor triad.

but after 7ths, i sort of stop thinking about the whole chord construction and just think about what extension i'm featuring along with with 1, 3 & 7 (or just 3 & 7 for rootless). i would say learn all of your drop 2/3 7th shapes in root position by heart. you can play most music with them. then figure out the degrees for each of your fingers. then either the note names or get feel of jamming extensions/alterations on top of them, either one first.

you can mostly paint by numbers with your chord shapes if you know which finger is which degree in the chord (instead of the note name) - e.g. in a C major drop 3 voicing from the root - 8x998x i know it's root-x-7th-3rd-5th before i recognize it as CxBEGx. that comes in handy in weird keys for thinking quickly.

https://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/drop-2-chords/
https://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/drop-3-chords/

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Are there any apps that try to identify chords in context? Because most non-trivial chords have multiple names, determined by how they function. And you can argument different ways based on how you view a progression.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

https://www.scales-chords.com/chordid.php

Does an okay job I think? Sometimes the names get very convoluted for slash chords. And for subs and rootless chords it's hard for it to tell you the context.

To tell you the truth, I think it’s easier just to learn triad and 7th chord construction and then just familiarize yourself with the sound of the upper extensions or alterations. learn it in C and then transpose later.

CDEFGAB is a c major scale. the chords are constructed in thirds, so every other note.

triads would be CEG, DFA, EGB, FAC, GBD, ACE, BDF
maj, min, min, maj, maj, min, dim
root-3-5, root-b3-5, root-b3-5, root-3-5, root-3-5, root-b3-5, root-b3-b5

for 7ths you add another CEGB, DFAC, EGBD, FACE, GBDF, ACEG, BDFA
maj7, min7, min7, maj7, 7th, min7, half dim (or min7b5)
root-3-5-7, root-b3-5-b7, root-b3-5-b7, root-3-5-7, root-3-5-b7, root-b3-5-b7, root-b3-b5-b7

and then of course keep going for 9, 11, 13.

also notice the top three notes in that CEGB (Cmaj7) - it's an Eminor triad.

but after 7ths, i sort of stop thinking about the whole chord construction and just think about what extension i'm featuring along with with 1, 3 & 7 (or just 3 & 7 for rootless). i would say learn all of your drop 2/3 7th shapes by heart. you can play most music with them. then figure out the degrees for each of your fingers. then either the note names or get feel of jamming extensions/alterations on top of them, either one first.

you can mostly paint by numbers with your chord shapes if you know which finger is which degree in the chord (instead of the note name) - e.g. in a C major drop 3 voicing from the root - 8x998x i know it's root-x-7th-3rd-5th before i recognize it as CxBEGx. that comes in handy in weird keys for thinking quickly.

https://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/drop-2-chords/
https://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/drop-3-chords/

I'm pretty good with chord construction; give me a root and any type and I can work out the notes. And of course given enough time and a fretboard to stare at I can work out different fingerings. But sometimes I need a quick reference, or I'll be writing and know I want an F chord that uses a particular C note in a particular spot and I want to be able to look up different fingerings around that.

Are there any apps that try to identify chords in context? Because most non-trivial chords have multiple names, determined by how they function. And you can argument different ways based on how you view a progression.

Well the context bit depends on me. It's fine if the app gives me 5 names for the same set of notes, I can work it out from there.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Well the context bit depends on me. It's fine if the app gives me 5 names for the same set of notes, I can work it out from there.

Sounds like an experiment! Just for myself, I think I can figure out a chord faster from nothing rather than detangling five names.

I guess a classic example would be: xx2333

 

[SixStringSlinger]

Sounds like an experiment! Just for myself, I think I can figure out a chord faster from nothing rather than detangling five names.

I guess a classic example would be: xx2333

The way I write, I tend to start with simple chords (typically triads and 7th's, unless I have something specific in mind) and then try to find a simple melody (mostly chord tones) within them, or else I might already have a melody in mind and use those notes to figure out chords for it. The chords may stay simple or get more complex, but by the time I need to figure out what chord I'm playing I usually already know what key I'm in and that it should be some variety of E chord, or something. Of course, things can go unexpectedly from there.

There are exceptions, but key, chord movement and melody often nudge you toward one name vs another.

 

[loopfinding]

wait, so you just want something to instantly give you the inversions for any given chord?

this sort of works (though it gives you all six strings worth of notes).

https://www.scales-chords.com/chord-calculator.php

 

[oregomike]

I'm looking for a simple app for finding/identifying chords. I want to be able to look up chords by name and find both the notes that constitute the chord and various fretting diagrams. I also want to be able to plug in note names so it can give me options (depending on context, of course) for what the chord I plug in can be called.

As simple as possible a layout is preferred, up to the point of paying a few bucks to avoid ads if need be.

I already have pretty good tuning and metronome apps, so no need for a do-it-all app.

What have you got?

I have a few I like, but Oolimo (I don't get the name either) is the only one I paid for as it's functionality and UI are outstanding IMO. Also, you can manually add/remove notes and it'll tell you what chord you made which I find helpful when messing around and I find something cool, but don't know what chord it is.

I also have Chord Bank and Fretboard Pro
For minimalism, there also Chords, which is just a good clear black and white graphical app.

 

[beninma]

There are a bunch of options. I have a couple apps on my phone, but my favorite is just this web page:

(link removed)

I tend to like it better than the apps I have.

I am working on constructing arpeggios for each chord in a scale right now by just working through them on the fretboard. I'm hoping it helps me get faster at both remembering what notes are in each chord as well as where they are on the fretboard.

I am finding that the base knowledge of things like "where is the 5th relative to a root on string X" is real helpful with this and working it out on the fretboard is beneficial vs paper/computer.

 

[loopfinding]

the other thing that's handy too is subs which came to me by way of barry harris. is it some function of the tonic or dominant?

aka basically treat I, iii, vi as functionally the same chord, and then all the ones containing the 4th, or the "avoid" note - ii, IV, V7, viiø as functionally the same chord. you can make a Cmaj7 more colorful by subbing an Emin7 for Cmaj9, or an Amin7 for C6. and then likewise you can make a Dmin7 more colorful by subbing an Fmaj7 for Dmin9, or Bmin7b5 for Dmin6. or make a G7 more colorful by subbing a Dmin7 or an Fmaj7 for a dominant sus4 sound.

you can also use diminished subs for dominants - so like, Ab dim7, B dim 7, D dim7, F dim7 - they're all stand-ins for G7. just reach for the nearest one.

that's one way to make some movement lazier/more in position and sort of automatic.

 

[Blrfl]

Oolimo. Available free on the web and as a mobile app for a few dollars. A bargain at twice the price.

 

[screefer]

Oolimo. The app is worth the small change. Bargain

 

[screefer]

For fun, run John's "Dear Prudence" intro through Oolimo and see what you get
xxx11,10,12
xxx11,10,10
xxx988
xxx787
xxx655
xxx553
xx0232

 

[Tele-astic]

I'll be writing and know I want an F chord that uses a particular C note in a particular spot and I want to be able to look up different fingerings around that. It's fine if the app gives me 5 names for the same set of notes, I can work it out from there.

Song One shows you all of the chord's notes on a fretboard and suggests all possible chord symbols if you tap random notes on the fretboard with inversions, extensions & altered bass notes - for any string count, tuning, capo position etc - and for piano as well.

 

[kbold]

I use an app on my phone called "Reverse Chord Finder".

You put the notes on the fretboard, and it tells you the chord.
It will give all the chord possibilities for the notes chosen.
I use the free version.

 

[kbold]

I guess a classic example would be: xx2333

"Reverse Chord Finder" gives me Gm/E and Em7b5.

Interestingly, if I leave all strings open I get: Em11, Am11/E, G69/E, Bm11b6/E, and A9sus4/E

 

[Wyzsard]

+1 as metioned already.....
(link removed)

 

[TokyoPortrait]

Hi.

Another vote for whatever that one with the funny name is - Oooooomeeelow?

I use the web page all the time. But, unlike you fancy folk here, I'm typically trying to remember which one is the G.*

Didn't even know it came as an app, so thanks to those that pointed that out.

Pax/
Dean
* barely joking, I'm probably actually trying to figure out where I can put my ring finger for the other version - in music, I'm a cowboy...

 

[BigDaddyLH]

"Reverse Chord Finder" gives me Gm/E and Em7b5.

Interestingly, if I leave all strings open I get: Em11, Am11/E, G69/E, Bm11b6/E, and A9sus4/E

A more common name for Gm/E would be Gm6. The chord is also a rootless C9 and F#7b9b13 (F#alt). Those last two are very common jazz applications.

 

[Churchjack]

I'm looking for a simple app for finding/identifying chords. I want to be able to look up chords by name and find both the notes that constitute the chord and various fretting diagrams. I also want to be able to plug in note names so it can give me options (depending on context, of course) for what the chord I plug in can be called.

As simple as possible a layout is preferred, up to the point of paying a few bucks to avoid ads if need be.

I already have pretty good tuning and metronome apps, so no need for a do-it-all app.

What have you got?

Chordbank is great. Circle of 5ths, scales, chords by name or search by fingering, it’s a really handy app.