How the chord identifier works
Tap the frets
Click the frets of the chord you want to identify on the fretboard. Click a string note marker at the nut to mark an open string.
Get the real name
As soon as you've got two notes or more, Fretscape names the chord - leading with the simplest and most recognisable name.
See every name
The same shape can often be read more than one way. See the inversions, slash and rootless readings too - click the options button to show advanced options.
Chord identifier FAQ
How do I find out what chord I'm playing?
Tap the notes on the fretboard representing the chord you want to identify, and mark any open strings. Fretscape names the chord automatically as soon as you have two notes or more - no typing, no theory required.
Is the chord identifier free?
Yes - identify as many chords as you like, with no account and no sign-up. A free account adds saving your chords and finding every playable way to play them; a capo and alternate tunings come with Pro.
Why does a shape have more than one name?
Because chord names are spellings, not just finger positions. The same shape can produce pitches that can be written different ways, like C# and Db, or the same notes can be understood from a different root. Fretscape leads with the name a guitarist would actually use, then lists credible alternatives so you can pick the one that fits your song.
Does it work with a capo or alternate tunings?
This reverse chord lookup tool identifies chords in standard tuning. Sign up for free to switch between standard and Drop D tuning. Add a capo, the full tuning library and custom tunings with Pro.
How does Fretscape decide which chord name comes first?
Fretscape looks at the actual notes, the bass note and the likely root, then ranks the names by what a guitarist is most likely to mean. It still shows credible alternatives, but it tries to put the useful answer first instead of making you sort through a wall of theory.
Why does the bass note matter when naming a chord?
The lowest note often tells your ear what the chord feels built on. Fretscape uses that note as a practical starting point, then lets you change the root if the song or progression points somewhere else.
What does a slash chord mean?
A slash chord shows a chord with a specific bass note. For example, C/G means a C chord with G as the lowest note. These names are useful when the shape is really a familiar chord, but the bass note changes how it feels.
What does omit or no mean in a chord name?
Omit and no both mean that a note normally expected in the chord is missing from this shape. For example, C6(omit3) means the chord has a C6-style spelling, but the third is not present in the notes you selected.
Why doesn't Fretscape show every possible chord name?
Because every possible name is not always useful. Some labels are technically possible but unlikely, confusing or missing too much information. Fretscape focuses on credible names first, with theory-heavy alternatives kept separate when they are genuinely useful.
What if my shape does not have a clear chord name?
Some groups of notes are fragments, passing shapes or sounds that do not have one clean chord name. When that happens, Fretscape tries to avoid forcing a misleading answer just to fill the list.
Is this a reverse chord lookup?
Yes. A reverse chord lookup works backwards from a normal chord chart: instead of picking a chord name and finding voicings, you tap the shape you are curious about and Fretscape tells you its name. That's exactly what this tool does - tap the frets, get the chord, and see every credible reading of it.
You've named it. Now play it better.
A free account adds saving, collections, and every playable way to play any chord - plus the one thing only Fretscape does: finding the smoothest path for your hand from one chord to the next. Add a capo, alternate tunings and full progressions with Pro.
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