Chord Editor

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", in {TablEdit}{Preferences}>Display 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 must be selected in the Display options dialog. 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 the 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 either [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.

The editor can also be opened using the keyboard shortcut []+[]+[D] from the TablEdit working window. In this case, if the cursor is located directly on a chord diagram anchor the effect will be the same as having clicked on the [Edit] button in the Chord Manager (you can also achieve the same effect by simply double-clicking on the diagram anchor). If the cursor is not located on such an anchor point the effect will be the same as clicking on the [New] button in the Manager and the editor will display an empty chord grid.

The buttons below "First Fret" allow you to substitute the filled and empty circles normally used for chord diagrams ("O") with numbers that indicate the exact fingers used to fret the chord.

The most common diagram form is to use circles. If you choose to create a diagram using this form, simply clicking on the desired location (string and fret) in the chord grid will enter a circle at that point.

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 "O"), all the numbers will be replaced by circles.

Instead of displaying the fingering number beneath (1), you can also have them displayed within the diagram (2) or beside the diagram (3). Simply highlight the diagram's anchor point and press [b].

This is only a very basic description of the editing process. A more detailed discussion follows below.

[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 of the dialog can be used to enter the name you wish to assign to the chord diagram. The alteration letters (# and b) within the chord names are converted into and musical symbols. To force the symbol, simply use the macro %# or %b. For example "Bm7%b5".

The [?] button to the right of the field toggles TablEdit's automatic chord recognition feature on/off. If you click on the button, 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.

The Editing Window

The window in the center of the dialog is where you'll actually be creating or editing your chord diagrams.

The vertical lines represent the strings of the instrument. The number of lines corresponds to the number of strings assigned to the instrument in {Score}{Instrument...}>Module and are displayed with the lowest pitched string on the left and the highest on the right.

The horizontal lines represent the frets of the instrument.

Open strings are represented by an "O" at their upper end and unplayed strings by an "X".

The "First Fret" field at the top right allows you to move along the neck of the instrument.

The number of the fret currently at the top of the diagram is displayed to its left.

Quitting the diagram editor using [OK] adds the diagram to the diagrams already in the Chord Manager list and you'll be able to retrieve it later. Exiting using [Cancel] cancels any editing you may have done.

 

Creating & Editing Chord Diagrams

Adding filled and open circles to 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, although you may not actually play the 1st fret, 2nd string C in a standard C major chord you may still want to show it because you do, in fact, fret the entire chord.

Use the right mouse button to add and remove open circles to the custom Chord Diagram.  Open circles are generally used to show supplementary notes not usually included in a given chord. Finger pickers will want to use them to show the alternate notes played out of the basic chord position.

For example you may play the 3rd fret, 2nd string D while playing out of a standard C major chord. Showing both a C major and a C major added 9 chord diagram may clutter the display 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 unfamiliar passages.

To indicate an open (O) or unplayed (X) string, left click above the fretboard display. This will toggle the display between the "O" and "X".

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.

Note: You may notice that the chord name changes as you enter the circles. This is due to the automatic chord recognition option mentioned above . If you wish, you can turn this option off by deselecting the [?] button to the right of the Chord Name field.

Creating Barré Chords

The chord editor automatically inserts a grand 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 right-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). Clicking on the lowest string of the secondary barré will cause it to be displayed as three, separate, filled circles.

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 Major 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 (right-click). In the case of the C chord above, a right-click on either end of the secondary barré will break it up to indicate that each string should be fretted by a separate finger.

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 (right-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 Fingerings (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.

You can "lock in" a barre all the way across the fingerboard. For this purpose, add only an open circle on the string at the position of the barre. An X on a particular string will be displayed behind the barre (indicating that the particular string is barred, but not played) without breaking up the barre. For example, in the G/C chord diagram below :

Creating a diagram longer than five frets

By default, TablEdit creates chord diagrams with a range of five frets, maximum.

In order to create chord diagrams of more than five frets, keep [Ctrl] held down while changing the first fret position.