Chord Theory Guide
Every chord type, progression, and harmony concept - explained for producers and musicians. 39 free guides covering beginner to advanced music theory.
Step 1: Detect the chords in your track
Upload any audio file to find the chord progression - then use these guides to understand what you hear.
Open Chord FinderChord Types
The building blocks of all harmony - from basic triads to complex extended chords.
Interactive piano keyboard diagrams for all major, minor, 7th, sus, and extended chord types in every key.
Guitar fret diagrams for open and barre chord shapes. Covers major, minor, 7th, sus, and more in all 12 keys.
GCEA ukulele chord diagrams for all 12 keys. Major, minor, dom7, maj7, min7 with interactive fret diagrams.
EADG bass chord shapes: root notes, octave shapes, power shapes, and minor triads across all 4 strings.
Root-5th chords (C5, G5, A5) for rock, punk, and metal. Includes TAB, Drop D shapes, and all 12 keys.
Sus2 vs sus4 compared, all 12 keys, resolution patterns, 7sus4, and famous songs using sus chords.
All 3 diminished types explained: dim triad, fully diminished 7th, and half-diminished (m7b5). Symmetry groups, all 12 keys, genre guide.
Aug triad, augmaj7, aug7 - all 3 types with formulas, all 12 keys, 4 symmetry groups, and the I-Iaug-IV Beatles progression.
14 extension types covered: add9, maj9, dom9, min9, maj7#11, dom11, min11, maj13, dom13, min13, 7b9, 7#9. Genre guide and voicing tips.
Chord Progressions
From basic diatonic progressions to genre-specific patterns used by professional producers and songwriters.
Roman numeral notation, Nashville number system, major vs minor keys, and how to transpose progressions to any key.
Complete diatonic chord chart for all 12 major and minor keys. Every scale degree with chord quality and Roman numeral.
20 essential progressions with Roman numerals, C major chords, song examples, and genre tags. I-V-vi-IV through 12-bar blues.
Genre-specific chord progressions for hip-hop, R&B, pop, jazz, rock, electronic, country, and more.
Progressions for all 7 modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian. 20+ progressions with genre guides.
Generate diatonic chord progressions in any key. Select your mode, choose degrees, get chord names and Roman numerals instantly.
Advanced Harmony
The techniques used by jazz musicians, film score composers, and pro producers to create complex, emotionally rich harmony.
Root, first, second, and third inversions with slash chord notation. Why inversions create smoother bass lines and voice leading.
Borrow chords from parallel modes to add color and emotion. bVII, bVI, iv in major keys. Genre guide for pop, rock, and film score.
V/V, V/IV, V/vi and all tonicizations. How to borrow dominant chords to temporarily point at any scale degree.
6 voice leading rules, 4 progression walkthroughs with note-by-note analysis, inversions as voice leading tools, DAW production tips.
Replace any dominant 7th with a chord 6 semitones away. All 12 tritone pairs, 5 real progressions, jazz and neo-soul applications.
The bII major chord from classical, jazz, and metal. Build guide, all 12 keys, 5 progressions, Beethoven to Metallica examples.
All 3 types (Italian, French, German) with formulas, all 12 keys, resolution to V, and how Ger+6 equals the tritone sub.
Chord Detection Tools
Tools to analyze and work with chords in audio files - all free, all in-browser, no uploads.
Upload any audio file and detect the chord progressions using Essentia WebAssembly chromagram analysis. Works on unreleased tracks - all local.
Free, No AccountPaste any chord sheet and transpose it to any key instantly. Handles all chord types including slash chords and extensions.
InteractiveRecommended Learning Order
New to chord theory? Follow this path from beginner to advanced.
- 1How to Read Chord ProgressionsBeginner
Roman numerals and notation basics - the language of all chord theory
- 2Common Chord ProgressionsBeginner
20 essential progressions used in thousands of songs
- 3Chords in Every KeyBeginner
Which chords are available in each major and minor key
- 4Chord Progressions by GenreIntermediate
Patterns specific to hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock, and more
- 5Chord InversionsIntermediate
Slash chords and how to create smoother bass lines
- 6Borrowed ChordsIntermediate
Borrow chords from parallel modes for emotional color
- 7Chord ExtensionsAdvanced
9th, 11th, and 13th chords for neo-soul and jazz
- 8Voice Leading GuideAdvanced
Move notes smoothly between chords like a pro
- 9Secondary DominantsAdvanced
Tonicize any chord in the key for chromatic momentum
- 10Tritone SubstitutionAdvanced
The jazz reharmonization technique used in every standard
Chord Theory by Genre
Know your genre? Jump straight to the guides most relevant to your music.
| Genre | Key Chord Concepts | Start Here |
|---|---|---|
| Hip-Hop / Trap | Minor progressions, sus2 loops, borrowed chords | Genre Progressions → |
| Neo-Soul / R&B | 9th and 11th extensions, maj9, min9, tritone subs | Chord Extensions → |
| Jazz | ii-V-I, tritone sub, Neapolitan, secondary dominants | Tritone Sub → |
| Pop / Singer-Songwriter | I-V-vi-IV, suspended chords, borrowed bVII | Common Progressions → |
| Rock / Metal | Power chords, Phrygian progressions, borrowed chords | Power Chords → |
| Lo-Fi / Chill | Jazz voicings, add9, sus2 loops, maj7 colors | Chord Extensions → |
| Gospel / Soul | Augmented chords, sus4, chromatic walk-ups, bVII | Suspended Chords → |
| Film Score / Classical | Neapolitan, augmented sixth, voice leading, tritone sub | Neapolitan Chord → |
Hear a chord, find it in your track
Use the BeatKey Chord Finder to upload any audio and detect the chord progression. Then use the guides above to understand what you heard and apply it to your own music.
Use the guides above to understand, extend, and reharmonize what you found.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of chords in music theory?
The main chord types are triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented), seventh chords (maj7, min7, dom7, m7b5, dim7), extended chords (9th, 11th, 13th), suspended chords (sus2, sus4), and power chords. Advanced types include borrowed chords, secondary dominants, Neapolitan chords, and augmented sixth chords.
What chord progressions should I learn first?
Start with the I-V-vi-IV (used in thousands of pop songs), then the I-IV-V (blues), then ii-V-I (jazz). These three progressions cover the vast majority of Western music. Once comfortable, explore minor progressions like i-bVI-bVII and modal progressions like the Dorian i-IV vamp.
What is voice leading in chord progressions?
Voice leading is the technique of moving individual notes in a chord to the next chord with as little motion as possible. Good voice leading keeps common tones, moves by step, uses contrary motion, and resolves tendency tones. It makes chord progressions sound smooth and connected rather than jumpy.
How do I detect chords in a song or sample?
Use the BeatKey Chord Finder at chords.beatkey.app. Upload any audio file (MP3, WAV, FLAC) and it analyzes chord progressions locally in your browser using Essentia WebAssembly. No upload to a server, no account needed. It detects chord types, timing, and displays the full progression.