ChordWizard Chord Reference Software (review)

On the surface, ChordWizard appears to be an electronic chord reference software package for PC geared toward guitar players. In reality, this software is appropriate for anyone concerned with chord structures in performing, teaching, or writing for any stringed instrument. The package includes standard instruments, chord types, and finger patterns ("chordshapes"), and is easily customizable to fit the user's needs.

Figure 4.

Main window for ChordWizard.

The installation process is simple and allows the user to begin customizing the software through a series of dialog boxes. The software offers three skill-level settings (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) to control the available chord and scale types. By switching between these levels, the user can expand or limit the information she or he receives from the program. The software also has five standard instrument libraries from which to choose (guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and bass guitar), and even gives users a choice about the orientation of the fretboard on the screen.

Once the software is set up, the program displays a lot of information without being cluttered. The default look is for the fretboard to be across the top of the window with two chord lists on the bottom (see Figure 4). One list is the chord library, which displays every chord available in that library, and the other is the matching chord list, which displays the chord names that correspond to the chordshapes shown in the library. When a chord is selected from the library, the program plays the chord and displays the finger positions on the fretboard. It also indicates what notes are being played and their functions within the chord (i.e., 3, 7, #9). Chords can also be played by clicking on an icon at the top of the window or by pressing the right mouse button while strumming across the strings.

The software allows users to modify the chord libraries, chordshapes, and instrument libraries, as well as to choose how chords are sorted and grouped, whether imperfect matches are permitted, and how to handle bridging. Further, users can filter chord libraries by chord quality and other criteria to make searching for chords easier. Chordshapes can be created or altered simply by clicking on the fretboard or using the Suggestion option, which scans for all chords that match the specified criteria. Instruments can be created and modified using the New Library and Library Instrument menus, where the user can choose the appearance of the frets, the tuning of the strings, and whether or not to use a capo.

Other features include menu options which show the relationships between chords and help the user find chords and scales that include particular notes or fit certain progressions. The software also allows the user to print out chord books and scale charts based on either the full library or filtered lists.

Unlike many software packages, the Help file for ChordWizard is quite useful. The Help window opens by default, and from there the user can access a variety of options. The most useful is a quick "how-to" guided tour of the program. The Help window also includes a music theory primer and a user's guide.

All in all, this software package is versatile, easy to use, and fully customizable. The software is available for downloading at www.chordwizard.com; it allows 10 sessions before requiring the user to pay the US$ 26.95 registration fee. [Editor's Note: A newer edition, ChordWizard Gold, v2.0, has been released since this review was undertaken.]