Chord Charts

[angelsguitar]

Hi.

Which notation editor would be best to create jazz/pop chord charts? I've taken a look on MuseScore and Lilypond. MuseScore is very easy to use, but the hash marks are a little hard to get in place, and everytime I make a system break they all get misplaced. Lilypond, on the other hand, handles hash marks well, but I'm a little confused on how to get some chord names to print (like C7#5, G13b9, and so on) and be able to transpose them, if necesary.

[studio32]

I think tuxguitar... maybe in combination with lilypond

see also: http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?t=320

[angelsguitar]

Thanks for the suggestion on Tuxguitar, although not exactly what I was looking for. Anyway, it would be useful for writing tabs to my students, so I'll download it

It seems that the "mighty" Lilypond has the answer to what I'm looking for. Take a look at this reference:

http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.10/Documenta ... name-chart

Well, I so used to Sibelius that I was looking for something similar. Still have my hope on MuseScore or Nted; they look promissing. But for the kind of music I do (which is mostly pop chord charts and lead sheets of church songs) they still lack some features. Maybe they'll improve those things in future versions, but for now I'll check Lilypond, and get used to it.

Thanks for your kind help, studio32!

[studio32]

You're welcome...

I thought you where talking about chord diagrams... its very handy to make them in Tuxguitar and export them to Lilypond!

For good lilypond help check there mailinglist check also the wiki of our forum member:

http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?t=362

O ja, take a look at the lilypond tool and lilykde (or kdelily) too...! Will makes life more easy!

[angelsguitar]

Thanks.

I was looking too at Mup from Arkkra Enterprises, at it looks very good too. Its syntax looks easier than Lilypond's.

At the bottom of this page is an example of how to make slashes for Chord Charts:

http://www.arkkra.com/doc/uguide/slashmrk.html

This is what I'm looking for, adding, of course, the chord names on top of the staff.

Have you tested or compared it with Lilypond? Anyone out there?

[studio32]

I'll take a look at Mup... I think a advantage of Lilypond is that several apps on linux has lilypond export functions: eg. rosegarden, nted, tuxguitar etc. Looks like the linux world is centred towards lilypond...

But lilypond doens't have all the tablature functions, which is a pitty for me. Maybe Mup has it?

[angelsguitar]

Looks like the linux world is centred towards lilypond...

I'm really liking more Mup, as far as I see, but am a little held back to change precisely for the same reason: Lilyponds seems to be the "standard" notation package in Linux, and is very well documented in their website and all around the net.

On the other hand, Mup is not a newcomer as far as I know. Plus it does everything I need at the time being.

So, in the end, I believe I'll have to make a decision in matters of convenience and practical use. Maybe I need a little more time experimenting with both.

In regards to tablature, I saw very good options in mup's documentation, although have not experimented a lot with it.

[studio32]

I'm really liking more Mup, as far as I see, but am a little held back to change precisely for the same reason: Lilyponds seems to be the "standard" notation package in Linux, and is very well documented in their website and all around the net.

On the other hand, Mup is not a newcomer as far as I know. Plus it does everything I need at the time being.

So, in the end, I believe I'll have to make a decision in matters of convenience and practical use. Maybe I need a little more time experimenting with both.

In regards to tablature, I saw very good options in mup's documentation, although have not experimented a lot with it.

I would like to see the tablature options... I'll check it.. if you have some examples you can post it here maybe?

edit: http://www.arkkra.com/doc/uguide/tabstaff.html

[sciurius]

... to create jazz/pop chord charts?

What exactly do you mean by 'jazz/pop chord charts'? Can you show an example?

[studio32]

@ Scurius, welcome

@ angelsguitar: I think NtEd added some features you might like: http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/st ... nted.xhtml

http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/st ... 01s24.html

[angelsguitar]

@ angelsguitar: I think NtEd added some features you might like: http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/st ... nted.xhtml

Certainly NtEd is getting more interesting every day, at least for what I mostly do. Will take a look; thanks studio32.

[sciurius]

Still wondering what exactly is meant by 'jazz/pop chord charts'...

[aidy]

lead sheets?
just the lyrics with chords over them?

[sciurius]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_chart

[angelsguitar]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_chart

That is just what I'm talking about; thanks sciurius. Basically chords on top of the staff with rhythm notation below. The rhythm notation tells the rhythm of the chords.

I use it a lot because it gives a clear perspective to the arrangement, while allowing the musician some freedom to be creative within the scope of what is written. When you have a note-for-note written comping part you have to play exactly what is written, but with the chord chart you can be more creative with the comping, as long as it stays within the chord and rhythm specified.