# WhatChord MIDI — Real-time chord recognition > Real-time MIDI chord recognition and music theory exploration tool. (iPhone/iPad app by Aaron Bull Schaefer.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatchord-midi/id6758409779 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Aaron Bull Schaefer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872791906) - Category: Music, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 24 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-02-03 - Data updated: 2026-09-01 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatchord-midi/id6758409779/reviews.md ## What is WhatChord MIDI? Identify chords from live MIDI or manual note entry, follow the key as you play, then explore the harmony behind them. Stop guessing what chord you're playing. WhatChord gives musicians fast, musically informed chord names and live key context. Connect a Bluetooth or USB MIDI keyboard for instant feedback, or use the lookup pad to enter notes from any instrument, sheet music, or recording. Auto key detection listens to your recent live chords, shows confidence, and waits when the evidence is ambiguous. Explore Chords and Explore Scales let you build and hear chords, browse a wide range of scales, inspect keyboard patterns, and understand diatonic harmony. Play it. Explore it. Learn it. WhatChord goes beyond simple note matching. Its musically informed analysis considers inversions, extensions, slash chords, altered tones, key context, and conventional naming practices so chord names appear the way musicians expect to see them. When you're comping with a bassist, Ensemble mode names rootless voicings as the chords they imply and marks the implied root on the keyboard. FEATURES - Real-time chord recognition Chord names update immediately as you play. - Automatic key detection Auto mode estimates the current key from recent live chords, shows confidence across major and minor keys, and can keep the app's key context following your playing. - Manual chord lookup Enter notes directly to identify a chord, choose its bass note, and inspect alternative interpretations without connecting a MIDI device. - Explore chords Tap the chord card to open explore mode and build or hear chords without a keyboard by adjusting the root, quality, extensions, and bass note. - Explore scales Tap the scale-degree strip to browse a wide range of scales with tones, keyboard patterns, and diatonic chords. - Musically informed analysis Recognizes inversions, extensions, slash chords, upper structures, altered tones, and complex harmony. - Ensemble mode When comping with a bassist, switch to Ensemble so rootless voicings are named as the chords they imply. - Alternative interpretations See other valid chord names when more than one reading makes musical sense. - Context-aware spelling Uses enharmonic notation based on key signature and chord function. - Customizable notation Choose the chord symbol style you prefer. - MIDI compatibility Works with standard Bluetooth MIDI and USB MIDI keyboards and controllers. RECOGNITION WhatChord identifies everything from simple triads to rich extended harmony and follows key context from real playing. Whether you're practicing theory, learning progressions, exploring altered dominants, or working through dense extended chords, the app names what you play with accuracy and musical intent. PRIVACY WhatChord is free, contains no ads, and collects no personal data. All analysis happens locally on your device. GET STARTED Play through MIDI, enter notes manually, or start exploring chords, keys, and scales right away. ## Key features - Real-time chord recognition - Manual chord lookup - Explore chords and scales - Musically informed analysis - Alternative chord interpretations - MIDI compatibility ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatchord-midi/id6758409779/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Great app and support!!! *2026-06-16* This is a great app that I plan to use as a music theory tool for my music students. The developer is very timely in response to emails and considers all feature request that are presented. The developer is quick to implement all feasible suggestions with the spirit of excellence. Thank you! ## Frequently asked questions about WhatChord MIDI ### How does WhatChord recognize chords? WhatChord recognizes chords through real-time MIDI input from connected keyboards or controllers, or via manual note entry using its lookup pad. Its analysis goes beyond simple note matching to consider inversions, extensions, and harmonic context. ### Can I use WhatChord without a MIDI keyboard? Yes, WhatChord offers a manual chord lookup feature. You can enter notes directly to identify chords, choose their bass note, and explore alternative interpretations without needing a MIDI device. ### What kind of musical analysis does WhatChord provide? WhatChord provides musically informed analysis, identifying inversions, extensions, slash chords, altered tones, and complex harmony. It also offers context-aware spelling and alternative interpretations when multiple readings make musical sense. ### Does WhatChord have ads? No, WhatChord is free, contains no ads, and collects no personal data. All analysis happens locally on your device, ensuring an ad-free experience. ### What devices is WhatChord compatible with? WhatChord is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It supports standard Bluetooth MIDI and USB MIDI keyboards and controllers. ### How often is WhatChord updated? The latest version of WhatChord is 2026.7.6, last updated on 2026-07-08. Updates typically include improvements and new features to enhance the user experience. ### What are the main features for learning music theory in WhatChord? WhatChord allows you to explore chords by building and hearing them without a keyboard, and explore scales by browsing a wide range of options with tones, keyboard patterns, and diatonic chords. ### What is the user rating for WhatChord? WhatChord has a perfect rating of 5.0 stars from 1 rating, indicating a highly positive user experience. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2026.08.28 — 2026-08-31 - Live MIDI now recognizes clear polychords and displays them in familiar stacked notation. - Chord names now wait for your notes to settle, reducing flashes during rolled chords, passing tones, and pedal-heavy transitions. - Bare shell voicings now include an omitted-third dominant-seventh alternative. - Help & Support now links directly to the Scale Degree Guide. - All Sound Off messages now clear held notes correctly. ### 2026.7.27 — 2026-08-04 - New Ensemble mode names rootless voicings as the chords they imply when you're comping with a bassist. Implied roots appear on the keyboard, and shared links preserve the playing mode. - Automatic key detection follows clear openings, cadences, and modulations sooner. - Chord naming now uses the current key to resolve common sixth-versus-seventh ambiguities. - Added a Scale Degree Guide to the website. ### 2026.7.20 — 2026-07-22 - Chord symbols now clearly distinguish accidentals on roots from altered extensions, such as C#(11) and C(#11). - Bluetooth MIDI reconnects automatically after unexpected dropouts and recovers more reliably when Bluetooth is toggled. - Connections complete about a second faster, with clearer guidance when pairing or setup fails. - Chord identification better favors common readings over rare altered major-seventh flat-nine names. ### 2026.7.11 — 2026-07-14 - Automatic key detection is here. On the Key Signature page, switch to Auto to see the detected key, confidence, recent chords, and a circle-of-fifths view as you play. - Choose Stable, Balanced, or Reactive in Settings to control how quickly automatic key detection follows changes. - The on-screen keyboard now reliably recenters after you rotate or resize the app. ### 2026.7.6 — 2026-07-08 - Chord names now use a lower-is-better explanation cost model for results that better match musician expectations. - Analysis is much faster: about 15x on common chords and over 20x on dense benchmark voicings. - Improved Bluetooth MIDI reliability on iOS, device switching, and controllers that use running status. - Added power chord names and a chord naming guide on the website. ## Related topics [chord recognition](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chord-recognition) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*