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Chord Builder

Simultaneous pitches and the geometry of voice leading

Chords are simultaneous selections of pitches over a root. Choose root and quality, see interval ratios, and inspect the minimal-semitone voice-leading map between two chords.

Audio plays when you press Play. Each chord is rendered as sine tones.
Chord A
Structure: 1 – 3 – 5
Semitone gaps: 4 – 3
Notes:
C · 11\tfrac{1}{1}
E · 54\tfrac{5}{4}
G · 32\tfrac{3}{2}
Chord B
Structure: 1 – 3 – 5
Semitone gaps: 4 – 3
Notes:
G · 11\tfrac{1}{1}
B · 54\tfrac{5}{4}
D · 32\tfrac{3}{2}
Voice leading: A → B (minimal-motion mapping)
CB-1 semi
ED-2 semi
GG0 semi
Total motion: 3 semitones

A chord is a simultaneous selection of pitches. Voice-leading minimizes total semitone motion between chord transitions — the geometry of harmony.

gaps encoded: 4 – 3

Chord Builder — Music Theory Labs · hbar.university