Free online chord player
Play chords in any key
Pick a key and the eight pads become its chords. Press and hold to play, press two at once for bigger sounds, and try the progressions underneath. It works on your phone too.
Press and hold a pad. Keys 1 to 8 work on a keyboard.Every chord in C major →
Progressions to try
The pop four I · V · vi · IV
C G Am F
I, V, vi, IV. The loop under a huge share of pop songs since the 2000s.
Three-chord song I · IV · V · I
C F G C
I, IV, V, I. Folk, country, punk, and most early rock and roll.
Minor start vi · IV · I · V
Am F C G
vi, IV, I, V. The pop four started on the sad chord, so it leans wistful.
Doo-wop I · vi · IV · V
C Am F G
I, vi, IV, V. The 1950s ballad loop.
Jazz turnaround ii · V · I · I
Dm G C C
ii, V, I. The cadence jazz is built from. Try it with sevenths on.
Royal road IV · V · iii · vi
F G Em Am
IV, V, iii, vi. A favourite of Japanese pop and anime themes.
How to use the chord player
- Choose a key from the menu. C major and A minor are good places to start; they share the same notes.
- Tap the pads in any order. Every pad is a chord that belongs to the key, so nothing you play will clash. Where your finger lands matters too: the top of a pad plays a little louder than the bottom.
- Switch to 7ths to hear the same chords with one more note. The pop four (I V vi IV) becomes something that sounds more like neo-soul.
- Turn on Strum to roll each chord from the bottom note up, like a guitar or a harp.
- Play a progression from the list. The pads light up as it goes, so you can see the numbers and names while you hear them.
Why the chords always fit
Every key has seven notes, and every chord here is built only from those seven notes by stacking every other one. In a major key the result is always the same shape: three major chords (I, IV, V), three minor chords (ii, iii, vi) and one diminished chord (vii°). The chords in every key pages list them all, with the notes of each chord.
That is the whole trick behind our apps. Gelato Chord puts these seven chords on seven keys with a strum plate beside them, and Gelato Synth has a chord mode with triads, 7ths, 9ths, sus and power chords.
Questions
Is this chord player free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no download, no account and no ads. It works on phones, tablets and computers.
Why can't I hear anything?
Turn your volume up and tap a pad again; browsers only start sound after a tap. On an iPhone, check that the ringer switch is not set to silent if you still hear nothing, and close other apps that are playing audio.
What do the Roman numerals mean?
They number the chords of the key from 1 to 7. Uppercase numerals are major chords, lowercase are minor, and ° marks a diminished chord. The same numeral pattern works in every key, so I IV V is C F G in C major and G C D in G major.
What is the difference between triads and 7ths?
A triad has three notes. A seventh chord adds a fourth note on top, which makes chords sound softer and jazzier. Try a progression both ways and listen to the change.
Can I use a computer keyboard?
Yes. The number keys 1 to 8 play the eight pads, and you can hold several at once.