Open the Progression Analyzer and paste your progression into the Overview tab. It identifies the key, assigns Roman numerals to each chord, and labels harmonic functions (tonic, predominant, dominant) so you understand the underlying theory.
What are tonic, predominant, and dominant functions?
Tonic chords (I, vi) provide resolution and rest. Dominant chords (V, viio) create tension that wants to resolve. Predominant chords (ii, IV) bridge between tonic and dominant, building anticipation for the resolution.
Can the analyzer explain why my progression sounds good?
Yes, by showing the harmonic function of each chord, the analyzer reveals patterns like deceptive cadences, secondary dominants, and circle-of-fifths movement that contribute to the emotional quality of your progression.
What is a cadence in music?
A cadence is a chord progression that ends a phrase or section. Common types include the perfect authentic cadence (V-I), half cadence (ending on V), deceptive cadence (V-vi), and plagal cadence (IV-I). Switch to the Cadences tab to detect them automatically.
How do I create strong chord resolutions?
Open the Resolution tab, pick a target chord, and the tool builds cadence-style approach chains that resolve strongly onto your target, stacking dominant and predominant moves for satisfying harmonic landings.
What is a secondary dominant?
A secondary dominant is the V chord of a chord other than the tonic. For example, in C major, A7 is the V of Dm (the ii chord), written as V7/ii. The Dominants tab maps all V7/x and ii-V-x combinations across your key center.
Can I paste a messy progression straight from a tab chart?
Yes — the Overview tab accepts pasted text with mixed separators (spaces, bars, commas, dashes, slash chords) and cleans it up for analysis, including an auto-detect-key option.