===================================== DAVE'S COMPREHENSIVE CHORD CALCULATOR ===================================== This calculator is far from perfect (see Wish List below), but it's the most comprehensive chord reference you're likely to find. In addition to giving you the fingurings for any complex chord that you might build, it also features 'reverse look-up', naming any chord that you can pick out on the fretboard. There is also support for your custom tunings. ***Save bandwidth!*** By saving this web page to your system you will have the FULL FUNCTIONALITY of the calculator while offline. But don't forget to bookmark this page so you can come back for updates and latest info. HOW TO USE ========== (You'll find this most useful if you keep a guitar handy ;-) Optionally, set a different tuning from the usual EADGBE. Try some of the 'open tunings' such as DADF(#)AD, DADGAD, DADGBE or DGDGCD. Either: use the Chord Builder (see notes below) to construct a chord name for which the fingering of that name will be given. To find different positions for the same chord, move the Barre up and down the neck. Or: 'play' chords by setting the Frets to find out what they're called. To quickly find which fret to play for a given note, use the Notes menus. Hovering your mouse over active areas of the screen displays helpful 'Tool Tips'. Chord Builder ------------- An example: I want to know how to play the A minor 7th chord... click Clear All to simplify the display. Then in Chord Builder, Select A as the Root. This will automatically set major 3rd and perfect 5th intervals, giving the chord of A major, and the fretboard above will show the fingurings. Next, change the 3rd to a minor (or flatten the C# to C) and add a 7th. Chord found. Moving the Barre to the right will find the next position, while clicking on one of the chord names (e.g, C6) will set Chord Builder's Root to C, along with that chord's other intervals. Chord Naming ------------ The naming system used here is a little crude: it's possible for a the same interval to appear more than once in a name (e.g., C -9 9 +9). In the rare cases this happens, just add or subtract multiples of 7 to the intervals until they are different (e.g., C -2 9 +16). Also, columns marked with an asterisk (*) above, blindly override enharmonics in neighbouring columns (e.g., adding +13 to C +5 makes C +5 7). If you want to make chords like these, you probably have no need for a chord calculator! Interval names and their distance from root:
1 min9 - - - - - 2 2/9 - - - - - 3 aug9 *min3 - - - - 4 - (**maj3) - - - - 5 - *sus4 11 - - - 6 - - aug11 *dim5 - - 7 - - - (**per5) - - 8 - - - *aug5 min6 - 9 - - - - *6/13 *dim7 10 - - - - aug13 *7 11 - - - - - **maj7 |
WISH LIST ========= PLAYABLE CHORDS: Some of the chords generated by the calculator require SIX VERY long fingers! A smarter algorithm would help here. Meanwhile, omit the more unreachable strings. NETSCAPE SUPPORT: While it's still buggy, I have no plans to support this browser. AUDIO: I've resisted suggestions to embed sound files in this program. As it stands, the program remains self-contained.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Feel free to copy and redistribute this product, keeping this notice with it. Moral ownership of the author is hereby asserted. DISCLAIMER: This product comes with NO SPECIFIC NOR IMPLIED WARRANTY: USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK! Please email your comments/bug-reports/suggestions to d@vidwest.net