Quite often when making music I play notes together randomly till I hear something I like. Problem is I often don’t know what the actual chord is that I’m playing as I am stupid.
Is there a plugin that can tell you this?
i dunno about something that tells you chords… but spectrum will tell you the note its hitting on.
Logic does this, i’ve seen it 
Thanks - I heard that Logic does this. Bugger - I’m on Ableton. I’ve used the spectrum analyzer trick quite a few times but unfortunately this only gives you note references rather than specific chords.
I think I’ve found a (slightly clumsy) way around it. I have an app called ‘Pro Chords’ that I’ve just seen lets you dial in the notes for a chord but isn’t always great at recognizing which one it is.
If anyone hears of a plugin that does this I’d love to hear it. I’m quite surprised there isn’t one already - a gap perhaps in the market?
There is no gap in the market. It is simply the idea that the shorthand for identifying a chord would be for those who know what the symbols mean and are using it to perform a piece written using that method. So for example, lead-sheet notation will give the root, chord quality, and taller structures in a manner that looks like this:
Am7(b9 #11)/E
Logic does it in this manner. But building a plug that did this would be difficult due to the almost limitless relationships a chord might have in the context of its voicing, key, and progression from one to the next. One would have to start programming all the combinations of notes that could form a chord, and then train the plug to recognize the vertical structure of the chord with regards to the bass and root, and from there determine the correct spelling of that chord using the chosen terminology. Very complicated.
So after all this, my answer to your question “Is there a plug that tells you what chord you’re playing?” is YES. It’s called a music theory book.
J
[quote]wickedged (22/08/2011)[hr]Thanks - I heard that Logic does this. Bugger - I’m on Ableton. I’ve used the spectrum analyzer trick quite a few times but unfortunately this only gives you note references rather than specific chords.
I think I’ve found a (slightly clumsy) way around it. I have an app called ‘Pro Chords’ that I’ve just seen lets you dial in the notes for a chord but isn’t always great at recognizing which one it is.
If anyone hears of a plugin that does this I’d love to hear it. I’m quite surprised there isn’t one already - a gap perhaps in the market?[/quote]
[quote]wickedged (22/08/2011)[hr]Thanks - I heard that Logic does this. Bugger - I’m on Ableton. I’ve used the spectrum analyzer trick quite a few times but unfortunately this only gives you note references rather than specific chords.
I think I’ve found a (slightly clumsy) way around it. I have an app called ‘Pro Chords’ that I’ve just seen lets you dial in the notes for a chord but isn’t always great at recognizing which one it is.
If anyone hears of a plugin that does this I’d love to hear it. I’m quite surprised there isn’t one already - a gap perhaps in the market?[/quote]
Could you not build a custom FX rack with an EQ8 for each note you suspect is in the chord (say 4 or 5) and then one by one filter out all the other notes with a narrow band pass filter followed by a spektrum which will then tell you each note? So if you have 5 notes in the chord 5 EQ8s, each band passed to each note with 5 Spektrums. If you find another note you can then add a new EQ 8 and Specktrum. Then once you have all the notes you could search for them online perhaps or maybe someone clever with music like Jamie could tell you once you have them sussed? Hope that helps.
Well, thanks for your ideas everyone. Jamie, I think you are right with the music theory book - as my first post said I fully recognise my stupidity in this area and am shamefully looking for a quick fix without any of the hard work. As always I’m spending far more energy looking for a way to avoid learning stuff than I ever would in just learning it. That said of course, if Logic can provide readouts of such complicated chord structures why couldn’t a VST?
Anyway, the question is redundant if there aren’t any out there in the first place. So my next question is what theory book would you recommend? I’ve found ‘Music Theory for Computer Musicians’ and ‘Music Theory for Dummies’ on Amazon. Any preferences?
Music Theory for Computer Musicians’ 
Look at the first note in the chord your playing… This,usually gives alot away as to what chord your playing…
Jan, I don’t even know where to begin in responding to this…
You are certainly not stupid! I suppose Logic’s method of labeling a chord works to some degree, but I wonder to what end? I mean, if the DAW tells you what chord it is that you are playing, then great! But what after that? What I was saying earlier about context is relevant here because knowing the chord name wouldn’t necessarily help anyone figure out what chord would come next unless one knew how certain chord alterations would be resolved, or how voice-leading techniques would make transitions between chords smoother. See what I mean?
Don’t mean to answer a question with a question, but what exactly would knowing the chord quality do for you in terms of your production?
[quote]wickedged (22/08/2011)[hr]Well, thanks for your ideas everyone. Jamie, I think you are right with the music theory book - as my first post said I fully recognise my stupidity in this area and am shamefully looking for a quick fix without any of the hard work. As always I’m spending far more energy looking for a way to avoid learning stuff than I ever would in just learning it. That said of course, if Logic can provide readouts of such complicated chord structures why couldn’t a VST?
Anyway, the question is redundant if there aren’t any out there in the first place. So my next question is what theory book would you recommend? I’ve found ‘Music Theory for Computer Musicians’ and ‘Music Theory for Dummies’ on Amazon. Any preferences?[/quote]
.
[quote]dom_moulton (22/08/2011)[hr]
Could you not build a custom FX rack with an EQ8 for each note you suspect is in the chord (say 4 or 5) and then one by one filter out all the other notes with a narrow band pass filter followed by a spektrum which will then tell you each note? So if you have 5 notes in the chord 5 EQ8s, each band passed to each note with 5 Spektrums. If you find another note you can then add a new EQ 8 and Specktrum. Then once you have all the notes you could search for them online perhaps or maybe someone clever with music like Jamie could tell you once you have them sussed? Hope that helps.[/quote]
How did I miss this?
Genius.
You should buy M4L & stick a 3D’izer on it.
[quote]ICN (23/08/2011)[hr].
[quote]dom_moulton (22/08/2011)[hr]
Could you not build a custom FX rack with an EQ8 for each note you suspect is in the chord (say 4 or 5) and then one by one filter out all the other notes with a narrow band pass filter followed by a spektrum which will then tell you each note? So if you have 5 notes in the chord 5 EQ8s, each band passed to each note with 5 Spektrums. If you find another note you can then add a new EQ 8 and Specktrum. Then once you have all the notes you could search for them online perhaps or maybe someone clever with music like Jamie could tell you once you have them sussed? Hope that helps.[/quote]
How did I miss this?
Genius.
You shouldbuy M4L & stick a 3D’izer on it.[/quote]
Don’t worry, i’m on it brother. M4L soon come. Then i’ll show you all!
ok i am sure this might be a cheap way . but if you own melodyne. read the track and select poly the sample chords or whatever sounds .
it will exactly tell you the pitch of each notes. i still prefer you learning music theory . it will help you on the long run
[quote]JamieinNC (23/08/2011)[hr]You are certainly not stupid! I suppose Logic’s method of labeling a chord works to some degree, but I wonder to what end? I mean, if the DAW tells you what chord it is that you are playing, then great! But what after that? What I was saying earlier about context is relevant here because knowing the chord name wouldn’t necessarily help anyone figure out what chord would come next unless one knew how certain chord alterations would be resolved, or how voice-leading techniques would make transitions between chords smoother. See what I mean? [/quote]
Again, showing my embarrassing lack of musical theory I have an app called ‘Pro Chords’ on my phone that suggests chord progressions based on what the previous chord in the sequence was. Its not brilliant but is good for generating ideas when you draw a blank. The problem is that I write by messing around with random MIDI note combinations when starting tracks off, so need to know what the final chord I’ve ended up with if I am to be lazy!
I’ve got an app on my phone called “Octavian” I’ve only scratched the surface so I’m not sure if it’s what your after…
In my quest of disproportionate effort to avoid learning music theory, I have found these two tools below. The first is for Ableton users only, and is a MIDI effect rack that a guy over on the Ableton forums has developed to turn your root notes into all kinds of wierd and wonderful chord progressions…
[url=http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=165753]Easy chords - free midi rack for writing parts - Ableton Forum
The second is a website that is a reverse chord finder. Put in the notes you have played an it tells you the chord you have produced. Almost exactly what I was looking for!
[url=http://www.scales-chords.com/chordid.php]Chord Identifier - Reverse Chord Finder - Search chord by notes
Hope these help anyone as pitiful as me.
Logic hint for me! 
[quote]wickedged (23/08/2011)[hr]In my quest of disproportionate effort to avoid learning music theory, I have found these two tools below. The first is for Ableton users only, and is a MIDI effect rack that a guy over on the Ableton forums has developed to turn your root notes into all kinds of wierd and wonderful chord progressions…
[url=http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=165753]Easy chords - free midi rack for writing parts - Ableton Forum
The second is a website that is a reverse chord finder. Put in the notes you have played an it tells you the chord you have produced. Almost exactly what I was looking for!
[url=http://www.scales-chords.com/chordid.php]Chord Identifier - Reverse Chord Finder - Search chord by notes
Hope these help anyone as pitiful as me.[/quote]
still need to learn the basic my friend. i see how that website works . but if you have that on your head it will save you more time . IMO