A chordshape is a pattern of fingers on the frets of a stringed instrument. When the strings of the instrument are strummed according to this pattern, a set of notes is played.
Chordshapes and Chords
Chordshapes on a stringed instrument produce sets of notes, which when played together, make chords. However, the connection between chordshapes and chords is not a one-to-one relationship.
Sometimes, the set of notes made by a chordshape can be represented by more than one chord name (eg. on the guitar in standard tuning, the chordshape 002010 produces the notes A-C-E-G, which are the notes in both Am7 and C6).
Also, there are usually several chordshapes on a stringed instrument that produce the same chord (eg. on the guitar in standard tuning, the chordshapes 332000 and 335453 both contain the notes C-E-G-B, the notes in the chord Cmaj7).
Finally, the notes made by a chordshape can vary greatly depending on the instrument and tuning. The same chordshape on a different instrument or tuning will produce a difference set of notes, and therefore a different chord.
For examples of other stringed instruments and tunings, see the standard instruments that are provided by ChordWizard.
ChordWizard takes the complexity out of working with chordshapes by automatically analyzing chordshapes to get one or more matching chords. These can then be indexed in a chordshape library for easy reference.
Chordshape Tablature
ChordWizard uses a shorthand tablature notation for chordshapes, which looks like a number (of 3 to 8 digits, depending on the number of instrument strings). Each digit indicates the fret position for one string on the instrument:
| 0 | Open (played, but not held down at any fret position) |
| 1 .. 9 | Fretted at the indicated fret position |
| 0 .. 9 | Fretted at the indicated fret position, plus 10 frets (eg. the digit 2 means fret 12) |
| x | Mute (not played) |
| ? | Wildcard (only with filters) |
The first digit is the uppermost string when you hold the instrument to play it. This is usually, but not always, the bass string.
It is also the highest numbered string on the instrument, which can be confusing until you get used to it. For example, on the 6-string guitar, it is called the 6th string, even though it is strummed first in a chord.
The example below is the basic D7 chordshape for guitar in standard tuning.
There are special keystrokes you can use for editing chordshape tablature.
Movable Chordshapes
If there are no open strings in a chordshape, it is known as a movable chordshape, because the same pattern of finger positions can be shifted up and down the neck to make a series of chordshapes.
Each of these chordshapes will have the same matching chords as the original chordshape, but with different root notes.
Movable chordshapes are good value, because learning one finger pattern instantly gives you several chordshapes. They are preferred by many players.
ChordWizard can automatically add or delete a movable chordshape series. This makes adding to a library or creating your own libraries much easier.
See Also
