The chord sequencer is a browser-based step sequencer designed specifically for programming and experimenting with chord progressions. Unlike traditional piano rolls or notation software, the chord sequencer uses a grid-based approach where each step represents a position in your sequence. This makes it incredibly intuitive to visualize and edit harmonic progressions, especially for producers and songwriters familiar with drum machine and synthesizer sequencer workflows.

At its core, the tool combines harmonic composition with the step-by-step programming interface popularized by electronic music production. You can choose from 8, 16, or 32 steps to accommodate different progression lengths - from tight two-bar loops perfect for house music and hip-hop, to extended eight-bar sequences ideal for jazz standards and progressive rock compositions. The visual grid makes it easy to see the structure of your progression at a glance.

The chord library includes all essential chord types: major and minor for fundamental harmony, dominant 7th, major 7th, and minor 7th for jazz and sophisticated pop, suspended 2nd and 4th chords for creating tension and anticipation, plus diminished and augmented chords for chromatic movement and dramatic effect. This comprehensive palette allows you to create progressions ranging from simple three-chord rock songs to complex jazz reharmonizations.

One of the most powerful features is the rhythm pattern control. While most chord tools simply play chords as sustained notes, the chord sequencer lets you choose exactly how chords are performed. Whole notes create ambient, pad-like textures. Quarter and eighth note patterns produce rhythmic, comping-style chord hits perfect for funk, reggae, and pop. Staccato mode delivers short, percussive chord stabs ideal for EDM and house music. Arpeggio mode transforms chords into flowing melodic sequences by playing notes sequentially, creating the foundation for trance, ambient, and progressive electronic styles.

The preset progression library serves multiple purposes. For beginners, presets are educational tools that demonstrate the most important chord progressions in Western music theory - the I-V-vi-IV that powers countless pop hits, the I-IV-V that forms the backbone of rock and blues, and the ii-V-I that every jazz musician must master. For experienced musicians, presets function as time-saving templates that can be loaded and customized quickly, speeding up the workflow when you need a solid harmonic foundation to build upon.

Real-time loop playback is essential for compositional workflow. The sequencer continuously loops your progression at the tempo you set (anywhere from 60 to 200 BPM), allowing you to hear your chord changes in context repeatedly. This is invaluable when writing melodies, testing harmonic ideas, or practicing improvisation over changes. You can make adjustments while the sequence plays, hearing the effect of chord substitutions and modifications immediately without interrupting your creative flow.

The save and load functionality turns the chord sequencer into a progression library. Each saved JSON file is a complete snapshot of your sequence settings - which steps are enabled, which chord type is assigned to each step, the key and octave, BPM, rhythm pattern, and step count. This means you can build a collection of progressions for different projects, share sequences with collaborators and band members, or return to previous ideas months later with all settings intact.

For music educators and students, the chord sequencer is an interactive learning tool. Students can load preset progressions to hear classic patterns, then modify individual chords to understand how substitutions and variations work. The immediate audio feedback reinforces theoretical concepts - students hear the difference between a major IV and a minor iv chord, experience how dominant 7ths create tension that resolves to I, and discover how suspended chords delay harmonic resolution. The visual grid representation helps students understand progression structure and phrase length.

Songwriters benefit from the chord sequencer's experimental approach to composition. Instead of sitting at a piano or guitar trying chord combinations manually, you can rapidly test different progressions by enabling steps and selecting chord types. The loop playback lets you live with a progression, singing or humming melodies over it to test whether the harmony supports your lyrical ideas. The ability to quickly swap individual chords means you can explore variations efficiently - try a minor vi instead of major VI, substitute a diminished passing chord, or experiment with modal interchange.

Music producers working in DAW environments can use the chord sequencer as a sketching and reference tool. Program your progression in the sequencer, experimenting with different harmonic approaches and rhythm patterns. Once you find a sequence you like, save it and recreate the pattern in your DAW using your preferred virtual instruments and voicings. The sequencer serves as a fast, distraction-free environment for pure harmonic composition before you dive into the complexities of production, sound design, and arrangement.

The step sequencer paradigm is particularly powerful for electronic music producers who think in grids and patterns. If you're comfortable programming drum beats and synthesizer sequences in step mode, the chord sequencer applies that same workflow to harmony. This makes it natural to create chord progressions that lock rhythmically with your drum patterns - use eighth note chord rhythm to match your hi-hat pattern, or staccato mode to create chord stabs that hit with your kick and snare.

For practice and rehearsal, the chord sequencer becomes a customizable backing track generator. Guitar players can program a jazz ii-V-I progression at 120 BPM and practice improvising over the changes. Piano students can load a preset progression and practice comping patterns at different tempos. Horn players can set up a sequence in their instrument's best key and work on melodic ideas over the harmony. The adjustable BPM means you can start slow while learning and gradually increase tempo as you improve.

Understanding step counts is key to using the sequencer effectively. Eight steps create tight, looping progressions perfect for electronic music hooks, hip-hop beats, and minimalist composition. Each step represents half a bar in 4/4 time, so eight steps equal four bars, enough for a complete phrase. Sixteen steps (eight bars) accommodate most song sections - verses, choruses, and bridges typically use four to eight bar progressions. Thirty-two steps (sixteen bars) allow for extended jazz forms, classical-style periods, and progressive rock sections with complex harmonic development.

The chord sequencer represents a modern approach to chord progression composition that bridges traditional music theory with contemporary production workflows. It's free, runs entirely in your browser with no installation required, and works on desktop and mobile devices. Whether you're a beginner learning basic progressions, a songwriter sketching harmonic ideas, a producer programming chord patterns, or a teacher demonstrating music theory concepts, the chord sequencer provides an intuitive, visual, and immediate way to work with harmony.