Updated October 2026 · Using the free tools
The Chord Finder shows the chord progression, the repeating loop and Roman numerals for a song. Songwriters can use it to learn how a song is built, spot the loop that repeats and see the Roman numerals that describe the relationships between chords. Use the reading to learn, then write your own progression and check it by ear.
Many songwriters learn by studying songs they love, and a chord progression is one of the best things to study. Working out the chords by ear takes time, and a reference reading can speed the process. The Chord Finder is a free tool that shows the chord progression of a song, the repeating loop and the Roman numerals that describe how the chords relate. It is a learning aid, and a way to start writing your own material.
This guide explains how to read the output, how to use the loop and the Roman numerals in your writing and how to check the result by ear.
The Chord Finder shows the chord progression of a song, the repeating loop and Roman numerals. The progression is the sequence of chords. The loop is the part that repeats, which is often the core of a verse or a chorus. Roman numerals describe each chord by its position in the key, which makes it easier to see how the chords relate and to transfer the pattern to another key.
Use a clean version of the song, ideally with the harmony clear. A full mix with a steady chord pattern gives the best reading. Songs with a sparse arrangement or a changing feel may be harder to read, so listen to the section you want to study and check that the chords are clear.
Drop the song into the Chord Finder in your browser. The tool analyses the track and shows the progression and the loop. Note the loop first, since it is the part you are most likely to use, and then the progression around it. The tool runs in your browser, and its description says nothing is uploaded.
Roman numerals show the chords by their position in the key. A chord labelled I is the home chord, IV is the chord four steps up, and V is the chord five steps up. Minor chords are often shown in lower case. The numerals are useful because they let you move the same pattern to any key, and they show the emotional logic of a progression, such as the pull from V back to I.
Play the loop on an instrument, and sing a melody over it. Then try changing one chord, or swapping the order, and listen to how the feel changes. Learning a loop in several keys strengthens your understanding of the pattern, and it prepares you for writing your own version.
Take the Roman numeral pattern and choose new chords for it, or write a new progression with a similar logic. Check the result by ear, since a progression that reads well on paper may not sound right. Adjust one chord at a time, and listen after each change, until the progression supports the melody you have.
Always confirm the reading by ear. Play the progression, and check that the chords sound as the reading says. If a chord seems wrong, listen again, since the tool and your ear may disagree on an ambiguous chord. Trust the ear, because the goal is a progression that serves the song.
When you want to play a song you love, the chord reading gives you a starting point, and the loop shows which part repeats. Play the progression slowly, then at tempo, and listen for changes the reading may have missed, such as a passing chord or a short turnaround. The finder is a map, and your ear makes the final corrections.
Once you can hear a progression clearly, change one chord at a time and listen to how the mood shifts. Swapping a chord for its relative, or moving the last chord of a loop, can give a new feeling without losing the song's structure. Record each version so you can compare them later.
A reading describes the harmony as the tool hears it, and some chords are ambiguous or sit between two labels. Songs can use inversions, passing chords and modal colours that a simple reading does not show. Use the reading as a starting point, and learn the detail by ear.
Read the progression of a song you love, and try writing your own version. The Chord Finder is free and runs in your browser. For the key that goes with a progression, the Song Key Finder reports the key and its relatives.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Labels that show each chord by its position in the key, so the pattern can move to any key.
The part of the progression that repeats, often the core of a verse or chorus.
Check by ear. The reading can be ambiguous, and your ear decides what sounds right.
Learn from it, and write your own version. Using a progression is a common practice, but the melody and the choices should be yours.
