ChordMini
Open-source AI for chord recognition & beat tracking
What is ChordMini? Complete Overview
ChordMini is an open-source application that employs state-of-the-art machine learning models to identify chords and analyze beats in audio with exceptional precision. Designed for musicians, music producers, educators, and enthusiasts, it provides accurate chord transcriptions and rhythm analysis for any song. The tool supports multiple detection algorithms optimized for different musical styles and complexity levels. ChordMini offers real-time visualization of chord progressions and beat patterns, making it an invaluable tool for music analysis, education, and production. As a research project from California State University, Fullerton, ChordMini combines academic innovation with practical applications in music technology.
ChordMini Interface & Screenshots
ChordMini Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can ChordMini Do? Key Features
Advanced Chord Recognition
ChordMini's AI-powered chord detection uses multiple model options for maximum accuracy. It supports Chord-CNN-LSTM and BTC (Bidirectional Transformer for Chord Recognition) models, capable of identifying major, minor, all 7th chords, diminished, and augmented chords including their inversions. The system includes enharmonic correction with local key context using reasoning LLM (Gemini) and context-aware chord interpretation for modulation and segmentation.
Intelligent Beat Detection
The precision rhythm analysis system features BPM detection and time signature identification. Using Beat-Transformer and Madmom algorithms, it provides accurate beat tracking, tempo estimation, and rhythmic structure analysis. Special features include downbeat detection for measure alignment, pickup beat handling, and identification of various time signatures (4/4, 3/4, 6/8, 2/4).
Real-time Visualization
Experience interactive chord grids and beat maps that sync perfectly with audio playback. The dynamic visualization system includes a chord grid with measure-based layout, real-time beat highlighting, and interactive navigation that lets you click any beat to jump to that time. Visual indicators show chord changes and progression flow, adapting responsively to different time signatures.
Guitar Chord Diagrams
ChordMini provides interactive guitar chord diagrams that show the real-time progression of chords in the analyzed song. These visual aids help guitarists quickly understand and play along with the detected chord progressions, making it an excellent practice and learning tool.
Open-source Architecture
As an open-source project, ChordMini offers transparency and flexibility. Users can clone and self-host the application, adapting it to their specific needs. The GitHub repository allows for community contributions and customization, though the public server may have limited availability due to resource constraints.
Best ChordMini Use Cases & Applications
Music Education
Teachers and students can use ChordMini to analyze songs for study purposes. The chord recognition helps with ear training, while the beat detection aids in understanding rhythmic patterns and time signatures.
Songwriting & Arrangement
Composers and arrangers can analyze existing songs to understand their harmonic structures and rhythmic patterns, using these insights to inform their own creative work.
Practice Tool for Musicians
Instrumentalists can upload recordings of their playing to analyze their chord accuracy and rhythmic precision, identifying areas for improvement in their technique.
Music Research
Researchers can use ChordMini's analytical capabilities to study musical patterns across different genres or historical periods, benefiting from the AI's objective analysis.
How to Use ChordMini: Step-by-Step Guide
Upload your audio file to the ChordMini platform. The system accepts various audio formats and will begin processing your file immediately after upload.
Select your preferred analysis models. ChordMini offers multiple AI models for chord recognition (Chord-CNN-LSTM and BTC) and beat detection (Beat-Transformer and Madmom). Choose based on your desired accuracy and processing speed.
View the real-time analysis as the system processes your audio. The interface displays chord detection and beat tracking as they occur, with visualizations updating dynamically.
Interact with the results. Use the playback controls to hear specific sections, click on chord diagrams for more information, and explore the beat map to understand the rhythmic structure.
Export or share your analysis. ChordMini allows you to save your chord progression and beat analysis for future reference or share it with the community through the Recent Analyses section.
ChordMini Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is ChordMini Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
ChordMini can detect major, minor, all 7th chords (maj7, min7, dom7, etc.), diminished, and augmented chords, including their inversions. It also performs enharmonic correction using context from the local key.
Using Beat-Transformer and Madmom algorithms, the beat detection is highly accurate for most musical genres. The system automatically identifies BPM, time signature, and can handle complex rhythms including syncopation and pickup beats.
Yes, as an open-source project, ChordMini can be used for commercial purposes. You may need to self-host the application if relying on the public server isn't suitable for commercial use.
ChordMini specializes in chord detection, beat tracking, and music analysis capabilities, positioning it across Music Technology and Audio Analysis categories. This combination makes it particularly effective for users seeking comprehensive music technology solutions.
ChordMini is designed for users working in music technology with additional applications in audio analysis and ai applications. It's particularly valuable for professionals and teams who need reliable chord detection and beat tracking capabilities.
The public server currently uses CPU-based computation. While GPU acceleration would be 10x faster, budget constraints limit the available hardware. For faster performance, consider self-hosting with GPU support.
You can star the GitHub repository, report issues, provide feedback, or make a donation. These actions help maintain the public server and fund further development.