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A piano reference: chords, scales, theory. Full MIDI.

Piano Chord Finder

Piano chord finder, identifier, analyzer and namer: select notes to recognize any chord

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Click keys, type notes above, or start from an example.

Input options
MIDI…

Build a chord note by note and name it: alternate voicings, inversions, and the full theory page one click away. For live naming as you perform, use What Am I Playing?

How to use

  • Click the keys for the notes you want to identify: tap on screen, toggle Computer Keys, or connect a MIDI keyboard.
  • Watch the results update as you go: two notes name an interval, three or more identify a chord.
  • The lowest note you pick is treated as the bass, so inversions are labelled correctly.
  • Open the chord page from any match to see fingering, theory, songs, and inversions.
  • Hit Clear to start a new chord from scratch.

Frequently asked questions

What is a piano chord finder?

A piano chord finder is a reverse-lookup tool built around a playable keyboard: instead of starting from a chord name, you start from the notes. Select the notes you are holding on the piano, or that you see on a page, and the chord finder piano identifies what chord those notes spell, including inversions and rootless jazz voicings.

How do I identify a chord by its notes?

Click the keys for each note you want to include. As soon as you have two or more notes selected, the finder matches them against every chord in our library and shows the name, the notes, and a link to the full chord page. The lowest note you pick is treated as the bass, so inversions are labelled correctly.

Can I play the chord I found?

Yes. The keyboard plays each note through a sampled piano, so you can hear the chord as you build it and confirm it sounds the way you expect.

What chord types does the finder recognise?

The finder uses interval-based recognition rather than a fixed catalog. Two notes identify the interval; three or more match against standard patterns for triads, 6ths, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, suspended, altered, and power chords, plus several rootless jazz voicings used by comping pianists. Chord types not yet in the library are still named correctly: they just do not have a dedicated theory page to link out to.

How is this different from the Chord Library?

The Chord Library is a forward lookup: you browse by name to study a chord. The Chord Finder is the reverse: you start from notes you do not yet have a name for and let the tool identify them. Use the finder when you are at the keyboard and want to know what you just played.

How is this different from “What Am I Playing?”

The Chord Finder is a deliberate, build-a-chord workspace: you place notes one at a time to name and study a single chord, with its alternate voicings and inversions laid out. “What Am I Playing?” is the live companion: it names whatever you play in real time, including intervals, scales, and modes, and is built for performing and screen shares. Both read notes through the same recognition engine, so a given set of notes names the same chord in either tool.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. Tap the keys on a phone or tablet to select notes: the keyboard scrolls horizontally so the full range is reachable on a small screen.

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