Draw clean guitar chord boxes in seconds: click the frets, set finger numbers, barres and muted strings, or type a code like x32010. Build a whole chord sheet at once and download it as a crisp PNG or scalable SVG.
Last updated:
Click a fret to place a dot · click it again to remove · click above the nut to switch O (open) / X (muted)
Finger:
x = muted, 0 = open. Use spaces or dashes for frets above 9, e.g. x 10 12 12 11 x. Same finger on the same fret = barre.
Style options
Fingers are optional. A name on its own (like Am) loads the shape from the chord library.
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How to use the Guitar Chord Diagram Maker
Start from a shape: pick a common chord from the list or type the frets from low E to high E, e.g. x32010 for C.
Edit on the diagram: choose a finger number, click a fret to place a dot, click it again to remove it, and click above the nut to switch a string between open and muted.
Set the position: leave Start fret on Auto for barre chords up the neck, or choose a fret and how many frets to show.
Style it: show finger numbers inside the dots or below, add note names, mirror for left-handed players and pick a dot colour.
Download the chord as PNG or SVG, or switch to Chord sheet to list several chords and export them as one image.
How to read a guitar chord diagram
A chord box is a picture of the fretboard seen from the front with the guitar standing upright. The vertical lines are strings: the thickest (low E, string 6) is on the left and the thinnest (high E, string 1) is on the right. The horizontal lines are frets, and the thick bar at the top is the nut. Each dot shows where a finger presses; the number in it says which finger to use.
Symbol
Meaning
O above the nut
Play the string open (not fretted)
X above the nut
Do not play this string (mute it or skip it)
1, 2, 3, 4
Index, middle, ring and little finger of the fretting hand
T
Thumb wrapped over the neck, usually on the low E string
Bar across several strings
Barre: one finger presses all those strings on the same fret
5fr beside the top fret
The diagram starts at the 5th fret instead of the nut
Common chord codes
Chord codes list the fret for each string from low E to high E. They are the quickest way to enter a chord here and to share shapes in text.
Chord
Frets
Fingers
Notes
C
x32010
x32010
C E G C E
G
320003
210003
G B D G B G
D
xx0232
xx0132
D A D F♯
Am
x02210
x02310
A E A C E
Em
022000
023000
E B E G B E
F (barre)
133211
134211
F C F A C F
Bm (barre)
x24432
x13421
B F♯ B D F♯
Moving a barre shape up the neck changes the chord but not the fingering: the E-shape barre (133211) is F at the 1st fret, G at the 3rd and A at the 5th. The diagram maker sets the 3fr or 5fr label for you when Start fret is on Auto.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a chord code?
List one value per string from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st): x for a muted string, 0 for an open string and the fret number for a fretted note. C major is x32010 and G major is 320003. When a fret is 10 or higher, separate the values with spaces or dashes, for example x-10-12-12-11-x.
How do I draw a barre chord?
Give the same finger number to every string the finger holds on the same fret. For F major type the frets 133211 and the fingers 134211: finger 1 on the 1st fret of strings 6, 2 and 1 becomes one bar across the strings. Untick Draw barres as a bar if you prefer separate dots.
What does the number like 5fr next to the diagram mean?
It is the fret number of the top row of the box. When a chord is played higher up the neck, the diagram does not show the nut; instead the label tells you which fret the first row is, so A minor at the 5th fret is labelled 5fr.
Can I make ukulele, bass or 7-string diagrams?
Yes. Type a different tuning such as G C E A for ukulele, E A D G for bass or B E A D G B E for 7-string guitar. The number of strings follows the tuning, and note names and chord detection use it too. The chord library contains 6-string guitar shapes only.
Is the PNG good enough for printing?
Choose Print size before downloading: the single chord is rendered at five times its screen size and the chord sheet at three times. For posters or books download the SVG, which is a vector file that stays sharp at any size and can be edited in Inkscape, Illustrator or Figma.
How does the Sounds like chord name work?
The tool works out the note on every played string from the tuning, then compares the set of notes with common chord types such as major, minor, 7, maj7, sus and diminished. The lowest note is used to choose between equivalent names and is shown after a slash when it is not the root.
Are my diagrams uploaded anywhere?
No. The diagrams are drawn in your browser and the PNG and SVG files are created on your device. Your last chord and chord sheet are remembered in your browser's local storage so they are still there next time.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.