Chord Frequency Analyzer
Find the exact frequency of any note in a chord given a root pitch, chord type, inversion, and octave. Use it when tuning synthesizers, analyzing harmony, or building custom temperaments.
About this calculator
Every musical note corresponds to a specific frequency in Hz. When you build a chord, each additional note sits at a precise frequency ratio above the root. This calculator uses the formula: result = rootFreq × octave × chordFactor × 2^(inversion/12), where chordFactor is 1.25 for major, 1.20 for minor, and 1.30 for other chord types. The term 2^(inversion/12) applies equal-temperament semitone spacing to account for chord inversions. A standard A4 root at 440 Hz in major with no inversion and octave multiplier 1 yields 440 × 1 × 1.25 × 1 = 550 Hz, which is approximately C#5. Understanding these ratios helps musicians, producers, and sound designers dial in precise harmonic relationships between oscillators and samples.
How to use
Suppose you want the third of an A major chord. Set Root Note Frequency to 440 Hz, Chord Type to major (factor = 1.25), Inversion to 0, and Octave Multiplier to 1. The calculation is: 440 × 1 × 1.25 × 2^(0/12) = 440 × 1.25 × 1 = 550 Hz. Now try the same chord in first inversion (Inversion = 1): 440 × 1 × 1.25 × 2^(1/12) = 550 × 1.0595 ≈ 582.7 Hz. This tells you exactly where to tune your synth voice or verify a sample pitch.
Frequently asked questions
What does the inversion parameter do in a chord frequency calculator?
Inversion shifts the chord tone up by a number of equal-temperament semitones using the factor 2^(inversion/12). Each semitone in equal temperament multiplies the frequency by the twelfth root of 2 (≈1.0595). So an inversion of 1 raises the result by one semitone, inversion of 12 raises it by a full octave. This mirrors how a guitarist or pianist voices a chord with a different note in the bass, altering the tonal color while preserving the harmonic identity.
How are major and minor chord frequency ratios different from each other?
In this calculator, a major chord applies a frequency factor of 1.25 (a just-intonation major third ratio of 5:4), while a minor chord uses 1.20 (close to a minor third ratio of 6:5). The difference of 0.05 in the multiplier translates to audible differences in brightness and tension. Major chords sound brighter because their third sits slightly higher in frequency relative to the root than a minor third does. These ratios approximate just intonation rather than strict equal temperament, which can be useful for pure synthesis or acoustic analysis.
When should I use a chord frequency analyzer instead of a standard pitch chart?
A standard pitch chart only lists fixed note frequencies for equal temperament. A chord frequency analyzer lets you combine a custom root frequency, chord quality, inversion, and octave multiplier in one step — essential when working with non-standard tunings, microtonality, or synthesizers tuned away from A440. It is particularly useful for sound designers layering oscillators, producers checking sample tuning, and music theorists studying harmonic series relationships. Any time your root pitch deviates from the standard chromatic scale, a dynamic calculator is far more practical than a static table.