Chord maps

Overview

Chord maps help you discover and compare chord voicings for any root note and chord quality. Whether you're learning a new chord, finding a specific voicing for a song, or exploring what's possible on your instrument, chord maps show you the options.

Think of it like a chord dictionary that adapts to your actual instrument and tuning.

When to use it

• Learning new chords: See fingerings for chords you haven't played before
• Finding voicings: Compare different positions for the same chord
• Transcribing: Figure out what chord you're hearing by exploring options
• Preparing charts: Find the right voicing before writing it into a song

Instrument + tuning

The maps adapt to whatever you're playing:

• Switch instruments: Guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin — diagrams update immediately
• Pick a tuning: Standard, drop D, open tunings, and more
• Custom instruments: If you've created custom instruments (like banjo or baritone guitar), they appear here too

The tuning you select affects which voicings are available and how they're fingered.

Reading the diagram

Each diagram shows:

• String/fret positions: Where to put your fingers
• Fingerings: Recommended finger assignments shown on the diagram
• Root notes: Highlighted so you can see the chord's foundation

Tips for reading:

• Start with comfortable voicings — you can explore exotic voicings later
• Look for common finger patterns that appear across multiple chords
• If a voicing feels awkward, try a different position or tuning

Choosing between voicings

Not all voicings are equal for every situation:

• Open voicings near the nut sound bright and full — good for strumming
• Barre chords higher on the neck sound tighter and more focused — better for controlled dynamics
• Partial voicings (3-4 strings) cut through a mix without muddiness

Consider what the song needs: a big open strum, a tight rhythmic part, or a melodic accent.

Exploring voicings

Use the root + chord type controls to navigate:

1. Pick a root: C, C#, D, etc. (or flats: Db, Eb, etc.)
2. Pick a quality: Major, minor, 7th, diminished, etc.
3. Browse the diagrams: See all available voicings

Some chords have many voicings; others have just a few. This depends on the instrument and tuning.

How voicings are organized

Voicings are sorted by fret position, starting from the nut. Lower positions appear first. Within the same position, voicings are ordered to put more common fingerings earlier.

Sharing and bookmarking

The URL updates as you explore. This means:

• Bookmark a specific chord/tuning combo for later reference
• Share the URL with a bandmate so they see the same diagrams
• Link to a specific voicing from your notes or chat

Just copy the URL from your browser — it encodes your current selection.

Use cases

Learning a song in an unfamiliar key

Say you're playing in Gb major and need a Gb major 7 voicing:

1. Select Gb as the root
2. Select "maj7" as the quality
3. Browse available voicings
4. Find one that fits your hand and the song's register

Finding a specific color

You know the chord is some kind of C, but you want something darker:

1. Select C as the root
2. Try different qualities: minor, m7, dim, etc.
3. Listen (on your instrument) and compare

Preparing for a session

You're recording and want options ready:

1. Map out the chords in the song
2. For each, find 2-3 voicings that work
3. Note the positions or bookmark the URLs

Next steps

Ready to turn a voicing into a chart?

• Learn about songs — write charts with ChordPro
• Arpeggio maps — explore chord tones across the neck
• Open chord maps — start exploring now