PDA Software Library/pdasoftwarelib.iso/PSION/MISC/CHORD/CHDHELP.TXT

Text File | 1995-07-22 | 8.4 KB | 301 lines

Chord v1.0 Documentation
------------------------

This file is available as on-line help from within Chord,
if the file chdhelp.rsc is in any \app\chord\ directory.

 1. Basics
 2. Entering chord names
 3. Book and guess modes
 4. Altered tunings
 5. Find options
 6. Chords available
 7. Tuning notes
 8. Notes by string or fret
 9. Guess chord
10. Spell chord
11. Altered bass notes
12. Diminished chords
13. Typing major chords
14. Preferences


1. Basics
---------

You can save up to 10 chords in each file, and
these may be inserted, deleted and copied between
chord boxes using Psion-I, Psion-D (or delete) and
Psion-C.

Use the arrow keys to move between chord boxes.

Press the space bar to find a new chord, or the
enter key to view a current one in more detail.

When a chord has been found it is displayed in the
chord view window. To find the next inversion, press
the space bar again. To keep the chord press enter.

After returning to the main screen you can press Psion-G
to find the next inversion.

Press the diamond key to switch between book and
guess modes.


2. Entering chord names
-----------------------

When finding chords type in the name as you would
write it, e.g. C7, Dm6, Eb9+5, Gm7b5, Ab/C, etc.
You can use + and - to mean # and b (except, of
course, in the root note, e.g. C#).

If the chord is not recognised, try writing it
differently, e.g. B7sus4 not Bsus4 (add 7). See the
Chords Available list in Help to get a feel for the
chord name structure the program will accept.

Both modes recognise some slash chords, such
as 6/9. Guess mode can handle altered bass notes,
such as Bm7/D.

The program is not case sensitive, but you may find
upper case confusing (e.g. BB9B5, not Bb9b5).

The program strips out brackets, spaces, and
commas, but otherwise ignores them.

At present, only the English system is supported, so
use F# not Fis, etc.


3. Book and guess modes
-----------------------

In book mode the program searches through a data
file (called Chdbook.odb) of chords in standard guitar
tuning. If this file is not present, book mode will not
be available.

In guess mode chord templates are used to find each
inversion in turn going up the fingerboard.


4. Altered tunings
------------------

Press Psion-T to alter the tuning of the strings. You can pick
from the list of presets, or set a custom tuning.
Instruments must have either 6 or 4 strings, but strings
can also be muted. This is handy when searching for chord
fragments for solos.

To return to standard tuning, or to switch to another
altered one, press Psion-T or the diamond key.

Tip:
  If you use a particular tuning regularly, save a file in that
  tuning under an appropriate name. You can then start Chord
  in that tuning by opening the file from the system screen.


5. Find options
---------------

The following options are available in guess mode, or in
an altered tuning:

Start at fret:
  The search will start at the fret specified.

Use all vital chord tones:
  Chords found will contain all the necessary notes,
  e.g. E, Bb and D for a C9 (see below for root note).
  The note G is not vital to a C9, and will appear
  only where possible.

  Set this option to No to find chord fragments.

Bass note must be root:
  Set this option to find only chords with the root
  note (e.g. C in a C9) on the lowest string played.

Must include root note:
  Set this option to No if you are not concerned about
  the root (it may be being played by the bass player).

Chord hand spread:
  Sets the number of frets that you have to stretch. Try
  increasing the number if no valid chords are found.


6. Chords available
-------------------

In book mode:

maj, m, +, -5, dim triad (or mb5), dim7 (or o)
6, 6/9, maj7, maj9, sus4
7, 7#5, 7#9, 7#11, 7b5, 7b9, 7sus4
9, 9#5, 9b5, 11, 13, 13b9
m6, m7, m7b5, m9

In guess mode (& altered tunings):

maj, m, +, -5, dim triad, dim7, add 9, add #11
2, 4, 5, 6, 6/9, 6/7, 6/7sus4, maj7, maj9, sus2, sus4
7, 7#5, 7#9, 7#9#5, 7#9b5, 7#11, 7/11, 7sus2, 7sus4
7b5, 7b9, 7b9#5, 7b9b5, 9, 9#5, 9b5
11, 11#5, 11b9, 13, 13#9, 13#11, 13b9, 13sus4
m6, m7, m7b5, m7b9, m9, m9b5, m11, m13, m/maj7, m/maj9
m6/7, m6/7/11, m6/9, m7/11, m/9, m13/11
maj7sus4, maj7#5, maj7#11, maj7b5, maj9#5, maj9#11, maj13

Any chord may be found using Spell chord (Psion-S).


7. Tuning notes
---------------

Shift-Psion-A will play an A (880Hz).

If you set Tuning Notes On (Psion-Q), the keys A to G will play
the notes A to G, and the keys 1 to 6 will play the string
tuning. Use Shift for an octave higher.

You can also set the duration of the note, and whether to
override the system sound settings.


8. Notes by string or fret
--------------------------

Notes by string (Psion--):
  Enter a note, such as Eb, and you will be shown the
  location of that note on each of the strings.

Notes by fret (Psion-/):
  Enter a fret number, and you will be shown the note
  at that fret on each of the strings.


9. Guess chord
--------------

Press Psion-* to identify an unknown chord by typing in the
fret positions (strings can be muted).

The program will display the chord with a list of valid
names (press the space bar to cycle through the list).

If at least one name has been found, the chord can be
saved to a chord box in the usual way.


10. Spell chord
---------------

Press Psion-S in order to enter a custom chord spelling.
After selecting the root note and typing in a suitable
name, you are asked to set each scale tone to No, Yes or
Maybe. So, for a sixth chord  you might set 3 and 6/13
to Yes, 5 to Maybe, and all other tones to No.

You can get an altered bass by setting the chord type
to, for example, m7/G.


11. Altered bass notes
----------------------

Altered bass notes can be set in guess mode (or in
an altered tuning) by including the bass note in the
chord name after a slash.

For example, to play a Dm7 chord over a G bass,
simply type Dm7/G. This will override the setting:
Bass note must be root.

The book mode chords have no altered bass notes.


12. Diminished chords
---------------------

Most guitarists will play a dim7  when they see a
chord such as Edim, and both book and guess modes
will offer dim7s if you type dim (or o).

If you want a diminished triad, type mb5, or dim triad.

For half-diminished chords type m7b5, m7-5, or, for
amusement, Ctl-155 (try it!).


13. Typing major chords
-----------------------

The program won't recognise the use of a capital M
to mean major. I felt it would be too confusing for
people who had never come across this convention.

Instead type maj, ma or major.


14. Preferences
---------------

Press Psion-Q, or choose Set Preferences from the
Special menu.

When you have made your choices press enter to set
them, or escape to cancel. Your settings are saved
from session to session.

Tuning notes on:
  This sets the keyboard so that the keys A to G play
  the notes A to G, and the keys 1 to 6 play the note
  associated with strings 1 to 6. Use Shift to play an
  octave higher.

Tuning note duration:
  Sets tuning notes to a short, medium, or long beep.

Override system sound settings:
  With this option set the program will ignore the
  system sound settings. So you can have sound turned
  off at the system screen (your Psion's icon display)
  but tuning notes will still play.

Show enharmonics in chord details:
  If this option is turned on, the program will show
  certain notes with both their enharmonics in the
  chord view screen.

  For example, Bb will display as Bb/A#.

  With the option off, the program will try to choose
  the more appropriate note, based on the root of the
  chord, and whether it is major or minor.

Seek to empty chord box:
  With this option on, the program will jump to the
  next empty chord box on find and guess operations.

  If the option is off, or all boxes are full, you can
  still save a found chord safely. The deleted chord is
  copied to the clipboard, and can be inserted elsewhere
  (Psion-I) if necessary (you may have to open a new file).

Show barre lines:
  With this option on the program will connect notes that
  that could possibly be barred across the fingerboard.
  (Only chords with four or more fretted notes will be
  barred.)


(c) Graham Brand, 1995
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