OtoTheory - Chord Progression

Build a chord progression that works, without studying theory—or find the chords in a song on your device. Drums and bass play along instantly. Free to start.

Write chord progressions that hold together musically, without studying theory first. Choose a key, choose a preset, and it plays immediately with drums, bass and keys behind it. Then replace chords while the loop runs until it becomes your own.

Or start from sound: detect chords from your own audio, or from a quick recording of your playing. The result is editable, so use it as a draft for learning a part by ear, or turn a recorded idea into a progression.

Free to start.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Choose a key and scale. Only the chords that fit are offered.
2. Choose a preset, place chords yourself, or detect them from your own audio.
3. Press play. A full backing arrangement starts.
4. Replace any chord while it plays, and keep what works.

WHAT YOU GET FREE

• Chord Progression Builder All 12 keys and every scale. Tensions and slash chords included. Auto-loop, BPM 60-180.

• Chord Detection From an audio file or your own recording. Correct anything the detection missed and keep building from there. Free to try, and unlimited with Pro.

• 60+ Progression Presets Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Ballad and more, all free.

• 12 Groove Styles Straight, Bounce, Strum, Piano, Shuffle, Pulse, Lo-Fi, a sustained-chord mode for the harmony, plus 6/8 and 12/8 ballad and rock.

• Chord Import Ask any AI chatbot for a song's chords and paste them in: instant analysis and playback.

• Suggestions OtoTheory reads the key, the scale and the chords around the slot you are editing, then proposes chords that fit that context. All of them come from music theory, so the progression holds together whichever you pick.

• Key & Scale Analysis Auto-detect key and scale, with fit % and degree notation (I, IV, V).

• Fretboard & Keyboard Guitar, bass and piano views. Chord tones light up in real time as the progression plays. Tap a note to hear it.

• Section Management Verse, Chorus, Bridge, with repeat counts per section.

• Capo Suggestions Find easier shapes for acoustic guitar.

• 3 Local Saves (sketches and detected songs combined)

PRO

• Unlimited Chord Detection and Recording The heart of Pro. Detect from your own audio, or record yourself and detect from that, as often as you like.

• Unlimited Saves + iCloud Sync Keep every idea, not just three. Sync between iPhone and iPad, and carry it to a new device.

• 38 More Groove Styles (50 in all) City Pop, Neo-Soul, Bossa Nova, Lounge Jazz, Amapiano, Trap, Afrobeats, Reggaeton, Salsa, Gospel, Arena Rock and more, plus 6/8 and 12/8 feels.

• MIDI Export A readable chord track, guide tones, a bass track and section markers. Kick, snare, hi-hat and each percussion instrument arrive on separate tracks, so you can rebalance, swap samples or re-quantize one without touching the rest. Tested in Logic Pro, Cubase and Ableton Live.

• Audio Export Groove-backed audio for video and social posts.

• No House Banners The in-app promotional banner is gone.

Pro is monthly, yearly or a one-time purchase. Prices are shown in the app.

WHO IT IS FOR

Guitarists who want to write songs before studying theory. Producers sketching pre-production before opening a DAW. Players who want scale guides to solo over their own changes. Musicians who want to know what chords a recording is using. Acoustic players who need a capo position that fits their hands.

FAQ

Q: Do I need to know music theory? A: No. Choose a key and scale, and only the chords that fit are offered.

Q: Can it detect chords from a song? A: Yes. Use an audio file on your device or your own recording, then edit the result to correct anything the detection missed. Free to try, and unlimited with Pro.

Q: What does Pro add? A: Mainly unlimited chord detection: the free tier has a cap, Pro has none. It also adds unlimited saves with iCloud sync, 38 more grooves, and MIDI and audio export.

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