The Chord Editor

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Although TablEdit contains an advanced automatic chord function, it cannot always handle the positions necessary to a particular arrangement. In fact, by its very nature, an automatic computer algorithm cannot be expected to treat even common chords correctly under all possible circumstances. This isn't the fault of the programmer, it's just that the algorithm can only deduce chord positions from the notes actually entered by the user. If it only has two or three notes to work with, you can be sure that any program is going to end up showing an incorrect chord at least half the time. The same applies to the chord names assigned to various diagrams. Given the fact that any given three note combination (the minimum number of notes required to actually name a chord) will usually have at least two correct chord names there is also the problem of whether a barré chord is, for example, an Ab or a G# (enharmonic chords), this being a function of the basic key signature.

There are two solutions to this problem. One is to create and name custom chords of your own and the other is to use custom chords which have been included in other tablatures or collected into chord catalogs. The Chord Editor in TablEdit, although not completely without fault from the user's point of view, provides you with a highly advanced tool for this purpose.

Before we get into the discussion of how to use the Custom Chord Editor, there is one point which must be made. The item "Auto Chord Diagrams", found in {File}{Preferences}>Display dialog, relates to the display (and, consequently, printout) of chord diagrams automatically generated by the program. If "Auto Chord Diagrams" is not selected in the Display options dialog, these will neither be displayed on your screen nor included in your printouts. Custom chords that have been inserted into the tablature are always included in the screen display. They are not, however, automatically included on your printouts. For them to be included, the "Chord diagrams" option in the "Display options" dialog must be selected. Given that the aim of the chapter you're reading is to show you how to use the Custom Chord Editor, we assume that you're planning to use Custom Chord diagrams in your tablatures. In this case, we would recommend that you turn the "Auto Chord Diagrams" feature off. It is, however, possible to mix the two features.  Although mixing Custom and Automatic chord diagrams can, at times, be handy, it's not without its drawbacks. You may not wish to have chords included in all parts of the tablature. For instance, it would seem rather unnecessary to print out identical, repeated sequences of chords throughout the entire tablature. If you leave the "Auto Chord Diagrams" function turned on, the program may display automatic diagrams of chords you've replaced elsewhere. This means you either have to insert the correct chord diagram (or an empty one, see below) in each instance. This is, in the end, a lot more work than doing custom chord diagrams in the first place.

Inserting a custom chord diagram automatically prevents the display of automatic diagrams within that measure. If you should decide to mix automatic and custom chords, make sure to create a completely empty custom chord diagram. That is to say one where all the strings are marked with an "x" at the top (not played) and no chord name is assigned to the diagram.

When this diagram is inserted into the tablature, it will exclude all automatic diagrams from the measure concerned and prevent their appearance on subsequent printout. Only the anchor point will be visible on the screen and it won't be included on your printouts. Please note that the illustration above has been specially edited for demonstration purposes.

Clicking on [Edit] or [New] in the Chord Manager opens the dialog illustrated here. If [Edit] is used the editor will display the chord diagram currently selected in the Chord Manager. If [New] is used the editor will display an empty chord grid so that you can edit a new Custom Chord diagram.

[Close] closes the dialog without saving any editing work you may have done.

[OK] closes the dialog and inserts the chord diagram displayed in the editing window into the "Chord Manager" window for immediate or later insertion into your tablature.

The Chord Name field at the bottom center of the dialog can be used to enter the name you wish to assign to the chord diagram. The "?" button to the right of the field toggles TablEdit's automatic chord recognition feature on/off. When the button is pressed, TablEdit will do its best to assign the correct name to the diagram. But, just as in the case of Automatic Chord Diagrams, the result may not always be the one you actually want. Although the name will be technically correct, it's impossible for the program to take into account elements such as key signature and voicing. In order to enter a chord name of your own, simply click inside the field and enter the name from the keyboard.

1. Adding Filled and Open Circles to Chord diagrams.

Use the left mouse button to add or remove filled circles to the custom Chord Diagram. Filled Circles are generally used to show the basic fretting of a chord. Fingerpickers may want to use them to show the chord position they're playing out of even if they don't actually play all the notes in the chord. For example you may not play the 1st fret, 2nd string C in a standard C major chord, but still want to show it because you use it as an anchor when playing out of the 1st fret C major position.

In order to create a diagram longer than five frets put the first mark then scroll the position while keeping the [Alt] key pressed.

Press the [Shift] key while clicking to add and remove open circles to the custom Chord Diagram. Open circles are generally used to show the supplementary notes not usually included in a given chord. Finger pickers will want to use them to show the alternate frets played out of the chord position.

For example you may play the 3d fret, 2nd string D while playing out of a standard C major chord. Showing a C major and a C major added 9th Chord Diagram may clutter the staff and make sight reading more difficult. As an alternative you could show the C major chord with filled circles and indicate the picked D by an open circle.

This works especially well when sight reading an unfamiliar section.

To indicate an open (O) or unplayed (X) string, click above the fretboard display.

There are certain conditions in which the Chord Editor will insert a secondary barré chord automatically. For instance, the upper notes of a third fret C chord may be played with either three fingers or with a three string (2nd, 3rd and 4th) interior barré played with the ring or little finger (assumed by TablEdit). Clicking on the lowest string of the secondary barré will cause it to be displayed as three, separate, filled circles.

A variation on the same technique also allows you to create Merle Travis style custom chords where the left hand thumb frets two bass strings in a partial barré. Play with it.

2. Adding numbers to Chord diagrams.

In order to insert numbers indicating left hand fingerings instead of filled or open circles, simply select the button corresponding to the desired "fingertip".

Pressing the [Shift] key while clicking enters the number within parentheses (supplementary note).

 

If you wish to use the numbered diagram form, first select the number you wish to enter into the chord grid before entering it in the diagram grid. The left-hand thumb is represented by T and the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 stand for the index, middle, ring and little fingers, respectively . Once you've selected the finger marking to be inserted, simply click on the required location (string and fret) within the grid. The latest selection made in the popup menu will remain active until you change it.

 

Circles and numbers cannot be combined within a single chord diagram but you can use both diagram types within the same tablature. If you should attempt to enter a number in a diagram that uses circles all previously entered circles will be converted into numbers. There is, of course, no guarantee that the resulting numbers will be correct. If, on the other hand, you should attempt to enter a circle into a diagram containing numbers (by re-setting the value in the box to "l"), all the numbers will be replaced by circles.

Instead of displaying the numbers beneath, you can also have them displayed within the diagram. Simply highlight the diagram's anchor point and press [b]. The results may vary according to your choice of font.

If the chord name selected by the automatic chord recognition function is not the name you wish to use or if the "Name" field is blank, simply click inside the Chord Name field and enter the appropriate chord name.

Click on "OK" to close the Chord Builder and to place your custom chord in the Chord Diagram Manager list. The chord will be highlighted indicating that it will be the chord diagram inserted at the selected place in the tablature. Note that nothing forces you to place the diagram immediately. Exiting the dialog box the "Close" button will close it without inserting the diagram into the tablature but the diagram will still be stored in the Chord Manager.

Clicking on "Insert" adds your Custom Chord Diagram to the Tablature. Notice the small, black marker below the chord diagram. This is the Custom Chord "anchor" and is used to indicate that the chord diagram above is a custom diagram.

3. Creating Barré Chords

The chord editor automatically inserts a barré when more than four, successive black circles are placed at a given fret. Although it's highly unlikely that five strings in succession would be fretted with individual fingers, such a barré can be broken up by pressing [Shift] and clicking on the lowest string.

Under certain conditions, the chord editor will insert a secondary barré automatically. For instance, the upper notes of a third fret C chord may be played with either three fingers or with a three string (2nd, 3rd and 4th) interior barré at the 5th fret played with the ring or little finger (assumed by TablEdit).

Due to these automatic functions, barrés may suddenly appear where you don't want them or, conversely, you may have trouble getting a barré to be displayed where you want one. This can, in most cases, be corrected easily. These problems are most common in connection with chords that need to be fingered using the thumb of your fretting hand but also occur in chords where a secondary barré is to be used above the primary, for instance a C chord with a full barré at the 3rd fret where the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings are to be fretted as a partial barré by the ring or little finger at the 5th fret.

An unwanted barré can be removed by defining any of the affected strings as open. If, however, this string is to be fretted at any position above the barré, that particular fingering MUST be defined by an open circle [Shift] + click. In the case of the C chord above, a [Shift] + click on either end of the secondary barré will break it up to indicate that each string should be fretted by separate fingers.

Forcing a barré where one is not automatically displayed is slightly more involved. The barré is forced by entering the principal notes as usual and then adding a supplementary note ([Shift] + click) anywhere along the path of the desired barré. The only thing you have to remember is that placing the supplementary note on a given string means that you won't be able to add further supplementary notes on that string. If you need to be able to do so, you'll have to select another string for the placement of the added note which forces the barré. There are very few cases where collision is so great that the desired diagram can't be created but it does happen. The best solution for this part of the problem is to indicate the fingering for the supplementary note below the tablature using the "Hand" palette.

This technique can also be used to create multiple partial barrés such as those found in chords where the thumb of the left hand frets the 5th and 6th strings while another finger forms a partial barré on the upper strings.