What is Harmonic Composer?
Harmonic Composer is a free music theory and composition tool for creating, visualizing, and hearing chord progressions in real time. Build progressions with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and instantly see proper four-part voice leading displayed in grand staff notation.
Whether you’re a music theory student learning harmony, a composer experimenting with ideas, or a teacher demonstrating voice leading principles, Harmonic Composer bridges the gap between theory and practice.
Features
Intuitive Chord Building
Build chord progressions with drag-and-drop simplicity. Select from major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads, then add extensions like 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths. Explore suspensions, tensions, and altered chords.
Proper Voice Leading
See your progressions rendered in SATB four-part harmony with correct voice leading. The app follows traditional part-writing rules so you can learn how chords connect and resolve properly.
MIDI Input & Chord Identification
Connect a MIDI controller or upload MIDI files and watch Harmonic Composer identify chords in real time. See each chord analyzed with Roman numeral notation, harmonic function, and voice leading context.
MIDI Playback
Hear your progressions instantly. MIDI playback lets you audition harmonic choices in real time, developing your ear alongside your theoretical understanding.
Advanced Harmony
Work with secondary dominants (V/V, vii°7/V), chord inversions, and multiple voicing arrangements including jazz piano voicings and guitar chord diagrams. See proper musical notation with courtesy accidentals and correct enharmonic spelling.
400+ Chord Types
From basic triads to augmented sixths and polychords, Harmonic Composer supports an extensive chord vocabulary with smart enharmonic spelling based on key context, real-time analysis of suspensions and non-chord tones, and function-based color coding.
Preset Progressions
Access common chord progressions to jumpstart your compositions or use as learning examples. Study how classic progressions work, then modify them to create your own.
Perfect For
Music Theory Students — Learn harmony, voice leading, and chord progressions by building and hearing them in real time.
Composers & Songwriters — Experiment with harmonic ideas quickly. Test progressions before committing them to your DAW or score.
Music Teachers — Demonstrate voice leading principles and harmonic concepts in class. Show students how chords connect and resolve.
Arrangers — Work out SATB vocal or instrumental arrangements with proper part-writing displayed automatically.
Self-Taught Musicians — Explore how chords connect and resolve without needing to read complex theory textbooks.
About the Creator
Harmonic Composer was created by Ben Guerrero, a music educator and researcher specializing in music technology and AI in music education. Ben is an Assistant Professor of Music at Eastern Mennonite University, where he teaches music technology and music education courses.
Have questions or feedback? Get in touch.