Chord maps

Overview

Chord maps show you the voicings available for any root note and chord type on your instrument. Think of them as a chord dictionary that adapts to the instrument and tuning you actually play.

On the web, chord maps work without an account. Open them at /chords.

When to use them

• Learning new chords: see shapes for chords you have not played before
• Finding voicings: compare positions for the same chord and pick the one that fits the song
• Transcribing: try chord types until you find the one you are hearing
• Preparing charts: settle on a voicing before you write the chord into a song

Instrument and tuning

The instrument switcher lives in the top bar on every page. It shows the current instrument and tuning, for example "Guitar · Standard". Open it to switch.

Built-in instruments and tunings:

• Guitar: Standard, Drop D, Open E, Open G
• Bass: Standard, 5 String
• Ukulele: Standard, Baritone
• Mandolin: Standard
• Piano: shows chords on a keyboard instead of a fretboard

Any custom instruments you have created appear in the same list. The Manage Instruments link at the bottom of the switcher opens the instrument manager. See Custom instruments.

Choosing a chord

1. Pick a root note. Use the notation toggle to switch between sharps and flats.
2. Pick a chord type. The list covers triads, sixths, sevenths, extended chords through 13ths, suspended and added-note chords, and altered dominants.
3. Browse the diagrams.

A tuning legend above the grid shows the open-string notes for the current tuning.

How many shapes you see

The map loads the first 50 shapes. Choose Show More Shapes to load 50 more, up to a maximum of 240. Some chords have many playable shapes on your instrument and others only a few.

How shapes are ordered

Shapes are ranked by how complete and playable they are. Shapes that contain every chord tone, include the root, use more strings, and sit closer to the nut rank higher. Lower positions tend to come first, but a complete barre chord can outrank an incomplete open shape.

Reading a diagram

Each diagram shows where to fret each string, which strings are open, and which are muted. Below it you will see the notes the shape contains.

Click a diagram to open its detail view. The detail view adds suggested finger numbers and barre markers.

Choosing between voicings

Not every voicing suits every situation:

• Open shapes near the nut sound bright and full, good for strumming
• Barre shapes higher on the neck sound tighter and more focused
• Partial shapes on three or four strings cut through a mix without muddiness

Think about what the song needs: a big open strum, a tight rhythm part, or a melodic accent.

Sharing and bookmarking

The URL updates as you explore. It encodes the instrument, tuning, root, and chord type, so you can:

• Bookmark a chord for later
• Share the link with a bandmate so they see the same diagrams
• Link to a chord from your notes or a chat

Notes with accidentals are written in flat form in URLs, for example Db and Eb. Pasting a URL with an accidental also switches the notation toggle to match.

Use cases

Learning a song in an unfamiliar key

You are playing in Gb and need a Gb major 7:

1. Select Gb as the root
2. Select maj7 as the type
3. Browse the shapes and pick one that fits your hand and the song's register

Finding a specific color

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

1. Select C as the root
2. Try minor, m7, dim, and other types
3. Play them on your instrument and compare

Preparing for a session

1. List the chords in the song
2. Find two or three shapes that work for each
3. Bookmark the URLs or note the positions

Next steps

• Arpeggio maps to explore chord tones across the neck
• Custom instruments if your instrument or tuning is not built in
• Songs to turn voicings into a chart