When arranging/transcribing a song, how do know what chords are being played?

1. How do you tell what chords are being played in a song?
2. How do you arrange chords in a song?
3. Is there an app that tells you the chords of a song?

How do you tell what chords are being played in a song?

One big clue to identifying a chord progression in a song is what the bass is doing. Being able to hear a bass line can help you quickly identify the chords. This is because the job of the bass is generally to play the root of the chord – the note that gives the chord its name – at the moment the chord begins.

How do you arrange chords in a song?

The 5 basic rules of Chord Progressions

1. Choose a key to write in (if you are just starting out the C major, G major, A minor and E minor are good keys to start with)
2. Work out the primary chords (I, IV, V). ...
3. Always start and end your chord progression on chord I.
4. Try using some common progressions (see below)

Is there an app that tells you the chords of a song?

The Yamaha Chord Tracker app helps you practice and perform songs by analyzing the audio song stored in your device and then displays the chord symbols for you. Play the chords of the audio songs stored on your device by simply reading the chord sequence extracted by Chord Tracker and shown on the device display.