Interactive Chord Finder

How to Use the Chord Finder

Our chord finder makes it easy to discover how to play a vast range of chords on guitar and piano.

• Select Your Instrument: Start by choosing either "Guitar" or "Piano". The diagram will update to match your choice.
• Choose a Root Note: Pick the root note of the chord you want to find, from C to B.
• Pick a Chord Type: Select the quality of the chord, such as major, minor, or dominant 7th.
• View the Diagram: The display will instantly show you how to play the selected chord. For guitar, it shows finger placements on the fretboard. For piano, it highlights the keys to press.
• See the Notes: Below the chord name, you'll find the specific notes that make up that chord, helping you with music theory.

What is a Chord?

In music, a chord is any harmonic set of pitches consisting of two or more (usually three or more) notes that are heard as if sounding simultaneously. Chords and sequences of chords are frequently used in modern Western, West African, and Oceanian music, whereas they are absent from the music of many other parts of the world.

The most basic chords are triads, which consist of three distinct notes: the root, the third, and the fifth. For example, the C Major triad consists of the notes C, E, and G. By changing these intervals, we can create different chord qualities, like minor, diminished, and augmented, each with its own unique emotional character.