Guitar Chords Crash Course Manual

Guitar Chords Crash Course
Manual for v3.4

Main Program

G3C supports custom chordfiles. If you wish to open one press this button.
If you wish to make a custom chordfile start the Editor by pressing this button.
Maybe your guitar isn’t tuned; press this button to start the Tuner. From the Tuner you can also access the Tuner Editor.
G3C features print support, press this button to print the currently opened chordfile. If you have any chords in the chordlist, G3C will ask you if you wish to print the list. You will also get the option to print the chords graphically. Please note: Having a large chordfile with a lot of chords in it will result in a big printout.
A printout will look something like this:

Guitar Chords Crash Course
-------------------------------------------
A Chords:
-------------
A: x 0 2 2 2 0
A2: ...

B Chords:
-------------
B: ...And so on...

If you have some chords in the playlist, you will get the option to print them graphically. It will look something like this:
0    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10 11 12
   -------------------------------------------------
X |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
   | X |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
   |---| X |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
   |---| X |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
   -------------------------------------------------

E or Emaj: 0 2 2 1 0 0
Click this button to change the different settings for G3C.
If you wish to view some information about G3C, press this button. From here you can also enter a registration code.
Pressing this button will open the included help file in your Internet Browser.
This is the fretboard or the neck of the guitar. If G3C can display the chord there will be green dots here showing you how to place your fingers on the fretboard. A light green dot means you should place a finger on the marked fret. A dark green dot means you should use that string but not place a finger on it. Hovering your mouse pointer over one of the green dots, or clicking with your mouse, will make G3C show you which note it is.
This is where G3C displays how the guitar is tuned. If you change tuning G3C will change the string notes accordingly.
These buttons are the categories which G3C sorts the chords in. If you wish to view a G chord then press the “G” button. The scales are located under the button labeled "s".
When you have selected which type of chord you want G3C will list all the chords in that category included in the currently opened chordfile.
The Tab will show you the proper fingering even if G3C can’t display the chord. The first number corresponds to the top string on the guitar. If it says 2, then you should place your finger on the second fret. If it says "x" then don't use that string or mute it by putting a finger on it. A "0" means that you should use that string without putting a finger on it.
G3C can play every chord it can display. Selecting a chord and pressing the enter key or double clicking in the list will also play it. If you have any chords in the playlist, G3C will play them in sequence.
This is a playlist. Add a chord with the button that looks like a "v". To delete a chord from the list press the button that looks like an "x". If you want to play the list, make sure you check the "Play List" option and then click the playbutton.
You can select the tuning in which G3C plays the chords. The tunings will also be available in the Guitar Tuner. You can edit and create your own guitar tunings by starting the Guitar Tuner and pressing the “Edit” button. The tunings are saved in the chordfiles and G3C will always display the tunings included in the currently opened chordfile.
There is a Tab search feature built into G3C. If you know the fingering for a chord but don’t know the name of it you can enter the Tab and press the magnifying glass. You can also copy the currently displayed Tab into the search box by clicking the black arrow.
This is where G3C shows you which chordfile you’re using. Press the “I” icon to view some information about it.
It's much more fun to play the guitar and having some drums playing in the background. Some drumpatterns are included, but it's very easy to create your own. The tempo of the pattern will be displayed next to it's name and you can change tempo without entering the "Drum Machine". To create or edit patterns, click the button next to the playbutton to start the "Drum Machine". On some computers the drumpatterns might be a bit sluggish...
This is a “Register” button. These can be removed by registering. Press it if you want to register. You will need an active Internet connection.

Chord Editor

Press the “Open” button to open a chordfile to edit. The file will be copied to the memory and nothing will actually be changed in the file before you decide to save it.
The “Save as…” button will save your currently opened chordfile. You will be prompted to enter a filename. G3C will automatically sort the file and remove all unused space. This might take a while on slower computers and the display might not always go up to 100%.
The currently opened chordfile will be displayed here.
When you edit a chord G3C will display the tab for the chord here.
This fretboard is a little different from the one in the main program. If you click on a string G3C will place a green dot on the selected fret. G3C will also play the note which would be heard if you played it on a Standard tuned guitar. The Chord Editor will use the same Output Device and Instrument as the main program.
Enter the name of the chord.
This is the list of chords. If you want to add a new chord, find an empty space and click on it. Now you can click away on the fretboard, enter a name for the new chord and press the "Add/Update" button to add the chord to the list. To add a scale, first press the button labeled "S".
When you have created or edited a chord you must press the “Add/Update” button to update the list.
Here you can enter some information about the chordfile. If you are editing a scale, there will also be a box where you can enter some information about the current scale. In the main program you can double click a scale to view the information.
The “Remove” button sets the currently selected chord to empty.
Moves the selected chord up or down.
This is a “PayPal” button. These can be removed by registering. Press it if you want to register.
The “Play Chord” button works like the one in the main program. The Editor cannot however play the chords in a different Tuning. It will play the chord as fast as you set it to in the main program.
Uncheck the “Play Notes” box if you don’t want G3C to play the notes when you click on the fretboard.
When you have created a new, or edited a chordfile you should press the “Sort” button to put all the empty chords at the bottom of the list before saving the file. If G3C finds an empty chord when you open the file in the main program it will not display the chords underneath the empty one. There is actually no point in pressing this button because G3C will automatically sort the file when saving it.
The “Reset” button will set all chords and scales in the list to “Empty”.
If you want to copy a few chords from another chordfile, press the “Import Button”. You will see a dialog with two empty lists and a couple of buttons in the middle. Press the “Open” button to open the file in which the chord you wish to copy is. When you have opened the file G3C will fill the left list with the chords. On top of the list, G3C will display the Tab for the selected chord. You can now copy the chords you want to the right list by either pressing the arrow buttons or by double clicking. You can only import chords beginning with A, B, C, D, E, F, or G, chord names starting with any other character will be ignored. Press the “Import” button when you have copied the chords you want. You can also check the "Import all scales" box to import the scales.

Guitar Tuner

Press one of these buttons and G3C will play the corresponding string. The 6^th string is the top one on your guitar.
The instrument box will tell G3C which instrument to use when playing the notes. You can also select how fast the notes should play.
You can select which guitar tuning to use when tuning your guitar. You can edit these and add your own by pressing the “Edit” button. Changing the tuning will also change the button labels accordingly.
Here you can select which labels G3C should display on the string buttons. Check the “Loop” box if you want the note to be played more than once. Clicking on the button that corresponds to the note being played will end the loop.

Tuner Editor

The tuner editor will edit the tunings in the chordfile that is currently opened in the main program.

This is where G3C will display the notes for the currently selected tuning. You can play the individual notes by pressing the corresponding play button.
The name of the current tuning will be displayed here. You can enter whatever name you want.
The "Add" button will add a new tuning to the list.
If you want to add the notes to the note name, click this button.
This button will update the currently selected tuning if you have made any changes to it.
Clicking this button will remove the currently selected tuning.
You can import tunings from another chordfile or an old style "tunings.g3c" file.
These buttons will move the selected tuning up or down in the list.
This is a "Register" button. If you wish to register G3C, click this button. You need an active internet connection.
These are the tunings that are included in the currently opened chordfile. If you wish to add a new tuning, change the name and the notes and click the "Add" button and your tuning will be added to the list.
The currently opened chordfile will be displayed here.

Settings

If you don't want the default chordfile to load when G3C starts, press the browse button and select the file you wish to load.
Here you can change how fast G3C will play the chords.
You can also change the length of the chord decay. In other words, how long the chord will ring.
You can choose which MIDI Device G3C should use when playing chords and drums. Test the device by pressing the button labeled "Test". If you can't get any sound in G3C, try changing the output device.
You can select which MIDI channel G3C should use to play the chords and drums. Channel 10 is the drum channel and if you select it G3C will play chords using a drumkit...
G3C includes support for left handed guitarists. You can also choose to display the chords upside down. Sadly, the fretboard will look the same when in upside down mode so you'll have to imagine that.

Drum Machine

This is where you select which instrument that should be played for the rows.
You can also change the volume for the rows.
The pattern name will be displayed here. If you wish to add a pattern, create it and when you are finished enter a name and press the button that looks like a disc. To remove a pattern, select the pattern to remove in the list and press the button that looks like an "x".
The tempo of the pattern will be displayed here. It will be saved with the pattern.
To play the displayed pattern, press the button labeled "Play Pattern". If you want the Drum Machine to loop the pattern when playing, make sure the checkbox labeled "Loop" is checked.