Fretboard Studies · v3.2
What chord is this?A free Reverse Guitar Chord Finder & Guitar Chord Identifier
This free reverse guitar chord finder identifies any guitar chord from the notes you're playing. Tap one note per string on the fretboard below to build any chord shape — open chords, barre chords, partial chords, dyads, even jazz altered voicings — then hit Submit and the tool tells you what chord it is, including inversions, alternate names, and whether you're playing a standard open shape. Now works with 11 tunings including standard, DADGAD, drop D, drop C, open G, open D, open E, open C, and more.
01 — Tap
One note per string
Each string starts muted with an X above the nut. Tap any fret on a string to play that note there. The X disappears and a glowing dot marks your choice. Tap the dot to mute the string again, or tap a different fret to move the note.
You can play between 1 and 6 strings. The tool needs at least 3 notes to attempt a chord identification.
02 — Submit
Identify the chord
Once you've built the shape, click Identify Chord. The tool calculates the actual pitches of every played note, finds the bass note (lowest pitch), and matches the pitch class set against 17 chord types to find every plausible name.
03 — Inversions
Bass note matters
When the chord's root is not your lowest played note, the tool detects an inversion. C major with E in the bass becomes C/E (first inversion). The bass note influences which interpretation is most likely when notes are ambiguous.
04 — Multiple Names
Why some chords have alternates
Some pitch class sets can be named more than one way. {A, C, E, G} is both Am7 (root A) and C6 (root C) — same notes, different root. The tool shows all reasonable interpretations and ranks them based on your bass note. Then jump straight into the Arpeggio Finder or Scale Over Chord to drill or solo with the chord.
How do I use this chord identifier?+
Tap one note per string on the fretboard above (up to six total) to build the chord shape you want to identify. Each string starts with an X marker indicating it's muted. Tap any fret on a string to play that note. Tap the played note again to remove it and mute the string. Once you've built the shape, click Submit to see the chord name.
What do the X marks above the strings mean?+
The X marks indicate muted strings — strings you do not play as part of the chord. By default all six strings are muted (X). When you tap a fret, the X for that string disappears and a note appears at the fret you chose. This matches standard guitar chord chart notation where X above a string means do not play it.
Why does my chord show multiple possible names?+
Some sets of notes can legitimately be named more than one way. For example A, C, E, G is both A minor 7 (Am7) and C major 6 (C6) — same notes, different root. The tool shows all reasonable interpretations and prioritizes the one where your lowest played note matches the chord's root, because that's usually the most natural reading.
What is a chord inversion?+
A chord is in an inversion when its root note is not the lowest sounding note. For example, C major in root position has C as the bass note. If E is in the bass instead, it's a first inversion, written C/E. If G is in the bass, it's a second inversion, written C/G. The tool detects inversions automatically using your lowest played note.
How do I enter a barre chord?+
Just tap the actual fret where each string would be held down. For an E-shape barre A major at the 5th fret, you'd tap fret 5 on low E, fret 7 on A, fret 7 on D, fret 6 on G, fret 5 on B, and fret 5 on high E. The tool reads the resulting pitches and identifies the chord regardless of how you're physically fingering it — barre, open, or any other voicing.
What does it mean when my notes form a dyad?+
A dyad is two notes played together. Some dyads strongly imply a chord type: a minor 3rd interval (like A and C) implies a minor chord, a major 3rd (like A and C♯) implies a major chord, and a perfect 5th (like A and E) is the classic power chord used in rock and metal. Other intervals are just named for what they are without a chord implication.
Why doesn't it recognize my chord?+
Either the combination of notes does not form a known chord type in the tool's database, or you may be missing a note that would complete a recognized chord. Try adding or removing notes to see if a chord is recognized. The tool covers all common chord types including major, minor, sus, dim, aug, 7ths, major 7ths, minor 7ths, half-diminished, diminished 7th, 6th chords, add9, 9th, and 13th chords.
Which tunings does the chord identifier support?+
Eleven tunings covering the most common six-string setups: Standard (E A D G B E), Drop D, Drop C, Half-Step Down (E♭ standard), Whole-Step Down (D standard), DADGAD, Open D, Open G, Open E, Open C, and Double Drop D. Pick your tuning from the dropdown at the top of the tool — the fretboard math automatically adjusts so the same fret positions play the correct pitches for your chosen tuning. Your selection is saved between visits. Extended-range presets (7-string, 8-string) are planned for a future release.
How does the DADGAD chord identifier work?+
DADGAD tuning changes the pitches of your open strings to D, A, D, G, A, D (low to high). That means a fret position that would produce one chord in standard tuning produces a totally different chord in DADGAD. Pick DADGAD from the tuning dropdown at the top, then tap the fret positions you're actually holding. The tool calculates the resulting pitches using DADGAD's open-string notes and names the chord correctly. This works for any of the classic DADGAD shapes — sus2 drones, open D chords, and the ambiguous modal voicings that make DADGAD sound the way it does.
Do open shapes still get recognized in alternate tunings?+
The open-shape recognition (which detects when you're playing something like a standard E-shape open chord) is based on standard tuning fingerings. In alternate tunings, the tool still identifies the chord by name, but the "open shape" hint may not apply since the shape you're fingering doesn't correspond to a standard-tuning open chord. The chord name itself will always be correct regardless of tuning.
Can I hear the chord played back?+
Yes. Below the fretboard there are two playback buttons: Strum plays all your notes together with a natural low-to-high stagger (like a pick crossing the strings), and Arpeggiate plays them one at a time from low to high so you can hear each note in the voicing. Both use the exact pitches you've placed on the fretboard, so inversions and specific voicings sound as played. A Tone switch next to the buttons flips between Warm (round dreadnought) and Bright (crisp parlor/steel-string) — your choice is remembered between visits. Notes ring out for about three seconds so you can hear the full chord blend. The guitar tone is generated live in your browser using Karplus-Strong string synthesis — no samples to download, and it works offline. You can audition any voicing this way even before identifying it.
Guitar Lick Lab
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