Workshop tool · Free, with limits
Games to learn guitar harmony
Knowing that Cmaj7 is C, E, G and B is good; finding it in two seconds is what changes your playing. These four games turn theory into reflexes: ten questions per session, points, streaks and a leaderboard that bring you back every day.
Included in the free account with a limit, unlimited with Premium.
The four games
Each session has 10 multiple-choice questions with four possible answers.
- Chord recognition: you see a chord (symbol and diagram) and pick its notes. Cmaj7? C, E, G, B. Fourteen qualities come up at random: major, minor, diminished, augmented, 7, maj7, m7, m7b5, dim7, sus2, sus4, 6, m6 and add9.
- Scale identification: you get a run of notes and name the scale. D, E, F, G, A, B, C? D Dorian. The modes, the harmonic and melodic minor modes, the pentatonics, the blues scale and the symmetric scales are all in play.
- Triad mastery: three notes and their position (root position, 1st or 2nd inversion), and you name the chord. E, G, C in 1st inversion? C major.
- Substitution challenge: what is the tritone substitution of G7, the relative minor of F major, the relative major of E minor, the secondary dominant of D?
After each answer you see straight away whether you were right and which answer was correct.
What you are really training
These games train fast harmonic reading, the kind you need when a chart is flying past.
- A triad has only three notes, but in an inversion the root is no longer at the bottom. E, G, C starts on the third of C: that is 1st inversion. G, C, E starts on the fifth: 2nd inversion. The game teaches you to find the root whatever the order.
- A tritone substitution replaces G7 with the seventh chord a tritone away, C#7 (Db7). Both share B and F.
- The relative minor sits a minor third below the major tonic: F major, D minor.
- The secondary dominant of a chord is the 7 chord built a fifth above it: for D, that is A7.
Tip: after every mistake, pick up the guitar and play the right answer. C major in 1st inversion on strings 3, 2 and 1 is E (G string, 9th fret), G (B string, 8th fret), C (high E, 8th fret). Once the note is under your fingers, the answer sticks.
Points, streaks and leaderboard
Every correct answer earns 10 HP (harmony points), plus a streak bonus: +2 on the second correct answer in a row, +4 on the third, and so on up to +10. A wrong answer resets the streak and takes 5 points off the session score (never below zero). You go up a level every 5 correct answers.
At the end of a session you see your score, the HP earned, your accuracy and your best streak. Your HP add up on the overall leaderboard, shown next to the games with your display name.
Free or Premium: how many sessions
The games are part of the GuitarHarmony workshop (app.guitar-harmony.com), open with a free account and no card.
- Free: all 4 games, 3 sessions a day in total (that is 30 questions). The "Today's sessions" counter shows where you stand.
- Premium (4.90 € a month or 39 € a year): unlimited sessions, on top of every Premium tool.
Three sessions a day are plenty for a routine: one triad session to warm up, one on scales, one on substitutions. To work on triads directly on the neck, the guitar triads tool shows them on every string set.
How to use it
- Open the games. In the workshop, open "Games & challenges". The four game cards appear with today's session counter and the leaderboard.
- Pick a game. Click "Play" under Chord recognition, Scale identification, Triad mastery or Substitution challenge. The 10-question session starts.
- Answer the 10 questions. Read the question, choose one of the four answers, then move on with "Next question". Your level and streak are shown at the top; "Quit" takes you back to the games.
- Read your results. At the end of the session: score, HP earned, accuracy and best streak. Note the questions you missed and play them on the guitar before your next session.
What you can do with it
The five-minute warm-up
Before you pick up the guitar, play one chord recognition session. You reach the instrument with chord spellings fresh in your head.
Preparing for a theory exam or lesson
Scales and inverted triads are staples of theory tests. One session a day for two weeks builds the reflexes.
Getting into jazz
The substitution challenge drills tritone subs, relative keys and secondary dominants, the basis of any reharmonization, before you apply them to your own progressions.
Frequently asked questions
Are the games free?
Yes. With a free account you can play all 4 games, up to 3 sessions a day in total. Premium (4.90 € a month or 39 € a year) makes sessions unlimited.
Are these ear-training games?
No, the questions are read, not heard: chord symbols, notes and diagrams. You are training harmony knowledge and reading speed, not recognising sounds by ear.
Why are notes written with sharps?
The games display notes with sharps: for Eb you will read D#, G, A#. D# and Eb are the same pitch (enharmonic). In a flat key, remember to translate.
How does the leaderboard work?
Each session adds the HP you earned to your total. The leaderboard lists the best totals with each player's display name; play one session to appear on it.