Chords

To set GuitarPower in 'Chord Voicing Mode' click on the 'Chords' tab of the 'Program Mode Tab Strip'

Chord Type Selector

Use this to select a type or quality of chord. All the available chords are divided up into the following musical groups:

• All Chords
• Major Chords
• Minor Chords
• Dominant Chords
• Altered Dominant Chords
• Other Chords

To view the chords available within a group, click on the + sign next to it. The group will then expand. To collapse a group, hiding the chords, click on the - sign.

To select a chord click on it. This will cause the chord information, chord voicing selector, and the fretboard display to change.

Chord Information

Displays detailed information about the currently selected chord.

Chord: The root note and the most common symbol used to represent that chord

Name: The name of the chord as it would be pronounced

Chord Notes (in red): The notes contained within the chord. This changes to reflect the current root note.

Formula: A method of calculating the notes in a musical structure regardless of key. To convert a formula into a set of chord notes, compare each formula element to a major scale that starts on the same root note.

Example: A dominant seventh chord has a formula of: 1, 3, 5, b7. To work out the notes in a C7 chord:-

C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B

Selecting the 1st, 3rd and 5th gives C, E and G. The 7th is B which when flattened gives Bb.

C7 = C, E, G, Bb

Chord Symbols

Displays a list of common symbols used to represent that chord. The chord symbol system is not standardised and there is often a number of symbols commonly used to represent a chord type.

Chord Voicing Selector

Displays a list of chord voicings available for the current chord type and root note. Chords are displayed with the most common (or well-known) first. Each chord voicing shows:

• Which string the root note appears on. Some chords may have a root note on more than one string, in this case the string that is easiest to visualise is given.
• The position on the neck where that chord voicing will appear for the current root note. Lowest note at the 1st fret is 1st position, lowest note at the 2nd fret is 2nd position etc.

The exception to this is chords that contain open strings. For these the legend reads 'Open Chord'.

One of three icons is used to represent the chord voicing

Play

Clicking the 'play' button causes the current chord voicing to be played. Guitar Power can output to your computer's sound card or to a MIDI instrument. For information concerning MIDI setup, click here.

Info

Clicking the 'info' button opens a window containing further information about the current chord type. This includes some practise chord progressions and play-along backing tracks. For more information click here.