Chord Creator v1.0/1.1

Donate/Support

This program is Donationware.

If you try it out and continue to use it, please send $5 to john@wagner-usa.net via paypal. Please include CHORDCREATOR in the note when you send the paypal. You will receive a "Thank you" email from me for your support. There is no "registered" version of the program. If you download from this site, you are getting the latest, fully functional version. I believe it's worth $5.

UPDATE: 8/10/2012 v1.1

There is now a version 1.1 of the Chord Creator program that is "registered" in that it displays a message thanking you for your support. To get the program, send the $5 via paypal below, then download the program (link below). This is a "self-help" registration, i.e. you could just download the program and never send the $5. I trust you. The registered version also adds support for 4 and 5 string instruments - useful for banjo and mandolin players (so I'm told, I don't play either!).

Please use the "Buy Now" button below to send $5 via paypal. Thank you!

Download

Windows installer for v1.0 - Unzip, run setup.exe - will attempt to download required runtime files if you don't have them (.net stuff).
Windows installer for v1.1 - If you sent $5 download this version, Unzip, run setup.exe - will attempt to download required runtime files if you don't have them (.net stuff).

Instructions

Click on the chart diagram to add notes. Click on the X above the string to toggle the string 0 or X (open or muted) Edit the starting fret (or leave it blank). Put the chord name above the chord. Add "Notes: as needed (or leave blank).

Use the clipboard button (or press Ctrl-C) to copy the graphic to the windows clipboard for pasting into a word processing program or another graphics editing program. Use the list next to the button to control the scale of the image copied to the clipboard. 1.0 is the same size as the current chart (250x250 pixels).

Use the -> button to move a chord to your library (on the right). Use the <- to move a chord from the library to the editor. If you make changes to the chord, or save a chord with the same name, it will make a copy in the library. Use the "X" button to remove chords from the library. Use the "Replace" option on the "Chord" menu to replace an existing chord.

Use the options in the File menu to "open/save/save as" the current chord library (area on the right). There is also an option in the File menu to save the current chord as a BMP file (using the current scaling options). When the program starts, it will attempt to open the most recently saved chord library.

The "Chord" menu has options for moving chords to and from the library and also setting the number of strings in a chord. Please note when changing the number of strings, it wipes out the current chord you are editing.

FAQ

Q. Is there a way to look up what chord I created?
A. Not with this program. This program is intended to be used as a documentation tool. It doesn't attempt to figure out what chord you created. It fills a need I had, and hopefully it will fill a need you have.

Q. What is the program good for?
A. It's great for creating chord diagrams and then using those diagrams in other programs, like word processors or image editors.

Q. How do I get a chord I saved in my library to the clipboard?
A. Double-click on the chord in your library to move it to the chord diagram editor, or select the chord in your library, and press the arrow button above the chord library, or select the "Chord-Get from library" menu option, or use the Ctrl-G hotkey. Once the chord is in the chord diagram editor, press the "Copy" button in the toolbar, or select "Edit-Copy" from the menu, or use the Ctrl-C hotkey. If you want a larger or smaller clipboard image, adjust the scale in the toolbar prior to copying the chord to the clipboard. You can now paste the chord into a word processing document, or image editor.

Q. Can I save a chord as a bitmap file?
A. Yes. Move the chord to the chord diagram editor (see question above), then select "File-Save chord as BMP" from the menu. The bitmap file will take the scale from the toolbar into account when creating the bitmap file.

Q. How do I print a chord?
A. Save it as a bitmap, then print the bitmap from Windows Explorer.

Q. Can you add a print option?
A. Probably... but for now, see question above.

Q. Can I distribute the files I make with this program... like BMP files and the library files?
A. Sure, they're yours!

Q. How do I show chords for guitars with more or less than 6 strings?
A. In the Chord menu, there is a "Number of strings" sub-menu with 4/5/6/7/8 string options. If you have a 9 string guitar, a)you're awesome and b)you're on your own.

Q. Do you expect people to send you $5 for a fully-functional program they downloaded?
A. Yes, if they use it. It's only $5.

Q. The "registered" version is downloadable by anyone, what if they don't send you the $5.
A. When I was a kid, I remember I had a job taking out trash in an office. At the office there was a big "In God we trust" snackbar box, with snacks that had prices and a cup to put the money in. I thought that was the neatest thing I'd ever seen. I wish the world was more like this.

Q. Can I send you a check?
A. Please use paypal.

Q. Can you add this feature: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A. Maybe, maybe not, no promises. Send me an email: john@wagner-usa.net - put "Chord Creator" in the subject so I'll be sure to see it.

Q. I want to report a bug.
A. Send me an email: john@wagner-usa.net - put "Chord Creator" in the subject so I'll be sure to see it. Thank you!

Q. FAQ?
A. OK, nobody really asked these questions, but I thought someone might.

Version history / release notes

Version 1.0 - May 8, 2010

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