How to find the chords of a song
For a quick answer, drop the file into Melody Genie’s free BPM and key finder: it runs in your browser and shows the key, BPM and the chord loop. To see chord changes across the whole song, open it in Genie Studio, right-click (or press and hold) a track and choose Read its chords (free): the chords appear on a Chords lane above the timeline and light up as the song plays. Chord reading works best on an instrumental, keys or guitar track; drums or a bare vocal have no chords to read.
Melody Genie team · Published · Updated · 4 min read
Steps
Quick check: the free finder
Open the BPM and key finder and drop the audio file. It analyzes locally in the browser, with no account and no upload, and shows the key, BPM, Camelot code and chord loop.
Full song: open it in Genie Studio
Open the song from your library or upload audio you own or may use.
Use the right track
Pick an instrumental, keys or guitar track. If you only have the full mix, split it first so the vocal and drums do not confuse the reading.
Read its chords
Right-click the track (press and hold on touch screens) and choose Read its chords (free). A Chords lane appears above the timeline and highlights the current chord while the song plays.
Check by ear
Play along with a keyboard or guitar. Detection is an estimate: inversions, passing chords and extended chords can be simplified.
Common mistakes
- Reading chords from drums or an acapella. There are no chords to detect. Use a melodic or harmonic track.
- Trusting every chord blindly. Use the result as a map, then confirm by ear.
Questions
Is it free?
Yes. The BPM and key finder and Read its chords in Genie Studio are both free.
Does my file get uploaded?
Not in the BPM and key finder: it analyzes in your browser. In Genie Studio the song is already in your project.
Can I play the chords back?
Yes. Add a MIDI track and use the piano keyboard’s chord mode, or convert a keys stem to MIDI.