All Tools

Chord Namer

Click the notes you're playing and instantly find the chord name. Works for major, minor, 7ths, sus, add9, diminished, augmented and more.

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From Our Worship Team

Learning chord names from the notes you already know how to play

Most worship guitarists learn chords as shapes, not formulas. You know where your fingers go for a G, a Cadd9, an Em7 — but ask what notes are in them and it starts to feel abstract. This tool closes that gap. Pick the notes, see the name. Over time, you start to notice patterns: every major chord has those same three intervals, every minor 7th has those four. Theory stops being abstract and starts being something you can hear.

Where this gets practical: you're in rehearsal, someone plays a chord you don't recognize. Instead of guessing, you find the notes on your instrument and click them here. You realize the pianist is playing a Fmaj9 and suddenly you know exactly how to voice it on guitar. That kind of cross-instrument communication is what separates a good worship team from a great one.

We also use this when we're writing or arranging. If a chord feels right but we can't name it, we click the notes and let the tool tell us. Once we know the name, we can search for it in other songs, understand how it functions in the key, and use it more intentionally. Names give you handles on sounds you already love.

Chord naming questions

Why does the same set of notes have multiple chord names?
Chords can have enharmonic equivalents — the same notes named differently based on context. For example, C, E, G, Bb can be a C7 chord or a Bb add2/C depending on the key and bass note. The tool shows all valid interpretations so you can pick the one that fits the musical context. In practice, the first result is usually the most common usage.
What is a slash chord and how do I read it?
A slash chord (like G/B or C/E) means "this chord played over this bass note." The chord name is on the left of the slash, the bass note is on the right. G/B is a G major chord with B in the bass instead of G. These inversions are common in worship music — they create smoother bass line movement between chords and a fuller, more orchestrated sound.
What is the difference between add9 and sus2?
Both add the 2nd/9th note to the chord, but sus2 replaces the 3rd (major or minor), while add9 keeps it. Cadd9 = C, E, G, D (the 3rd E is still there). Csus2 = C, D, G (no 3rd at all). In worship music, Cadd9 is extremely common because it keeps the chord's major quality while adding that open, ringing sound guitarists love with open string resonance.
How many notes do I need to identify a chord?
Most chord types require at least 3 notes. Two notes only gives you an interval — a perfect 5th could be part of dozens of chords. Three notes identifies most basic triads. Four notes identifies 7th chords, sus4, sus2, and common extensions. Five or more notes are needed for 9ths and larger extended chords.