Chord Explorer — Analyze Piano Chord Relationships

The Chord Explorer in The Ultimate Piano compares any two chords and shows how they are related. It lists the notes they share, how far apart they sit, and the keys both belong to. One of the app's strengths is that you can play the pair back, so what the analysis claims is confirmed by your own ear.

It visualizes voice leading — how individual notes move smoothly from one chord to the next — and helps you understand chord progressions. You compare 2 chords at a time, building each from 12 root notes and 6 chord qualities.

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How to Use the Chord Explorer

Open the Chord Explorer from the feature menu (Learn → Chord Explorer), or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+E. The tool uses a dual-column radial selector that holds a maximum of 2 chords at once:

1. Left column – Select your first chord (Chord 1)
2. Right column – Select your second chord (Chord 2)

For each chord:
1. Click a root note — you can choose from all 12 root notes (C, C#, D, and so on)
2. A radial menu expands showing chord types
3. Select the chord quality — maj, min, 7, maj7, dim or aug

Chord Relationship Analysis

The Chord Explorer analyzes the chord relationship as soon as two chords are selected. It compares the two chords note by note and reports what they share and how they move.

Common Tones

Common tones are the notes that both chords share, and the Chord Explorer highlights them for you. Common tones create smooth voice leading and connection between chords.

Functional Relationship

The Chord Explorer identifies the harmonic function of each chord relative to a key, using 3 core functions:

• Tonic (I) – Home, stable
• Subdominant (IV) – Moving away
• Dominant (V) – Tension, wants to resolve

Voice Leading

The Chord Explorer highlights common tones and shows how notes connect between the two chords, helping you find smooth transitions for arranging and composition.

Use Cases

• Songwriting – Understand why certain chord progressions sound good
• Arranging – Find smooth voice leading between chords
• Theory Study – Visualize the chord relationship on the piano
• Improvisation – Identify common tones for melodic ideas

Voice Leading Tips

• Close relationships – Chords that share 2+ notes usually sound good together
• V to I – The classic dominant to tonic resolution
• Circle of fifths – Adjacent chords on the circle share notes
• Press ESC to close the Chord Explorer

Use Passing Chords to find transition chords between any two chords, or explore chord structures visually in Learning Mode. Turn your chords into a full chart with the Leadsheet Editor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Chord Explorer and how does it work?

2 chords are all you need: the Chord Explorer lets you select any two chords and instantly see their harmonic relationship — common tones, functional relationship (tonic, subdominant, dominant), and voice leading analysis. It helps you understand why certain chord combinations sound smooth or create tension.

How does the chord relationship help with songwriting?

2 shared notes are the threshold: the Chord Explorer shows the common tones between two chords, and chords sharing 2+ notes transition smoothly, while chords with fewer shared notes create more dramatic movement. This reveals why some progressions feel natural while others create surprise, so you can choose chords intentionally.

What is voice leading on piano?

Voice leading describes how individual notes move from one chord to the next. Good voice leading minimizes large jumps — notes move by step (1-2 semitones) or stay as common tones. The Chord Explorer analyzes this automatically for the two chords you select.

Can the Chord Explorer help me learn jazz harmony?

Yes. Jazz harmony relies heavily on chord relationships, especially functional progressions like ii-V-I. Across 12 roots and 6 chord qualities, the Chord Explorer shows the functional relationship between any two chords, helping you understand dominant resolution, tritone relationships, and common-tone connections that are fundamental to jazz.

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