Choosing chords

Read the circle of fifths

Neighbours on the circle sound good together. Your key’s chords are lit in green (the home chord brightest); blue and dark purple chords are further out. Not wrong, just bolder. While the song plays, the chord being played glows orange-red.

1. 1The key’s home chord: brightest green
2. 2Blue and purple: further from the key, bolder
3. 3Inner ring: the minor chords

Tip: Tapping a chord only lets you hear it. Nothing changes in your song until you write it in.

Let the Chord finder suggest what’s next

The Chord finder is a dial. Drag or scroll it to try the chords most likely to come next, ranked best first; tap one to hear it. The ones that would sound out of place are left out.

1. 1NOW: the chord in the bar you’re on
2. 21st, 2nd, 3rd… the most likely next chords
3. 3Try instead: swaps that also fit

Shape the chord in the Chord editor

The Chord editor turns any root into the exact chord you want: Gsus4, Gmaj7, Gadd9… The line at the top says how it fits your key (“IV in G major · a main chord”, “borrowed, adds color”). Then press ✎ Write to put it in the bar.

1. 1Triads: major, minor, sus, dim, aug, power chord
2. 2Sevenths
3. 3Color chords: 6, add9, 9, maj9…
4. 4The chords in your key, with numerals

Start from a proven progression

Open Progressions in the part for a library written in your key: Pop anthem, 50s doo-wop, Royal road, Canon, Jazz ii–V–I, 12-bar blues and more (with minor-key versions). Hear one, then use it. Undo brings back what was there.

1. 1Progressions tab in the part
2. 2How long each chord lasts
3. 3▶ hear it
4. 4Use it in this part (or add to the end)