NUT CHORDS 1.2 - Chord and Scale Finder

CONTENTS                                                                                 


  1.  Introduction
  2.  Chord finder
  3.  Scale finder
  4.  Chord configuration
  5.  Requirements
  6.  Credits and stuff
  7.  License




INTRODUCTION                                                                           1.


  Thanks for downloading Nut Chords 1.2 - chord and scale finder.

  This program is able to show any chord in any variation, that fits in a range of four
  frets plus free strings in a 20 frets area, with any tuning. It handles inversions,
  damped strings and can convert any known chord from keyboard to fretboard or vice versa.
  It's possible it shows the chord in a funny way, but it's still a correct way.
  Idea is to show all possibilities, not to show how to play chords in general.
  The whole program is based on logics, that's why it's unpredictable.

  This new version has also a scale finder included. You can search for any scales,
  modes or arpeggios in any tuning. Pick up a scale or mode from the list or do your
  own on the keyboard.

  If it doesn't have the weird chord you want, just add it to the configuration file!




CHORD FINDER                                                                           2.

  Fretboard

    Turn a right-handed guitar 180 degrees so that you play the back.
    That's how you see the strings in the program.

    On fretboard you can seek for chords and do inversions.
    You can convert known inversions from here to keyboard.

    Mouse actions:

    Current notes

      left   - free string
      right  - damp string

    Fretboard

      left   - place finger
      middle - damp string
      right  - free string

    Tunings

      left   - tune up
      right  - tune down


  Keyboard

    On keyboard you can seek for chords and do inversions.
    You can convert known inversions from here to fretboard.

      left   - press key
      middle - clear all keys (left+right works but not well)
      right  - free key


  Buttons

    Press buttons or use shortkeys. When scrolling variations, shortkeys are recommended.

      guitar - convert the current chord to fretboard if exists
      piano  - convert the current chord to keyboard if exists
      right  - bass place right (lowest note of chord)
      left   - bass place left
      up     - next variation of chord around the current bass place.
      down   - previous variation
      chords - chord mode
      scales - scale mode


  Chord view

    Here you'll see the current chord picked up from list, fretboard or keyboard.
    The conversions will be done by the chord in this window, if any.


  Key list

    From here you can pick up a key. The bass will always be the same as the key
    after you've choosen. You can do inversions only on keyboard or fretboard.


  Chord list

    From here you can pick up a chord. Scroll by your mouse, by the arrows or
    use shortkeys. The bass will always be the same as the key after you've choosen.


  Shortkeys

    left arrow  - bass place left
    right arrow - bass place right
    up arrow    - next variation of chord
    down arrow  - previous variation of chord
    insert      - convert to fretboard
    delete      - convert to keyboard
    home        - keylist up
    end         - keylist down
    page up     - chordlist up
    page down   - chordlist down
    F1, kpd Ins - toggle between chord and scale-mode
    F2, kpd Del - toggle additional notes ON/OFF




SCALE FINDER                                                                           3.

  Fretboard

    On fretboard you'll see the notes that belong to the scale.
    The key is hightlighted.

    Tunings

      left   - tune up
      right  - tune down


  Keyboard

    On keyboard you can do your own scales or arpeggios, what ever.

      left   - press key
      middle - clear all keys (left+right works but not well)
      right  - free key


  Buttons

    Press buttons or use shortkeys.

      guitar - no function
      piano  - no function
      right  - no function
      left   - no function
      up     - no function
      down   - no function
      chords - chord mode
      scales - scale mode


  Chord view

    Here you'll see the current key and scale picked up from list.
    There's no detection of known scales when you do your own scales.


  Key list

    From here you can pick up a key.


  Scale list

    From here you can pick up a scale.


  Shortkeys

    home        - keylist up
    end         - keylist down
    page up     - scalelist up
    page down   - scalelist down
    F1, kpd Ins - toggle between chord and scale-mode
    F2, kpd Del - toggle additional notes ON/OFF




CHORD CONFIGURATION                                                                    4.


  Run a text-editor and load the chords.cfg file.
  There's information to change the settings, very simple.

  Program will tell you about incorrect values, feel free to mess around!

  NOTE! There is a backup file of chords.cfg in case you mess something.
  DISTRIBUTING THE PROGRAM WITH YOUR ALTERED CONFIGURATION IS PROHIBITED!




REQUIREMENTS                                                                           5.


  The program does some heavy calculation of combinations in realtime.
  This reguires processing power.

  - 486+ recommended
  - SVGA/VGA graphics card / 512 K
  - 1 MB of memory
  - DOS environment

  If you use Windows 3.11/95/NT it is recommended to quit in to DOS before
  running the program. This program was not designed for Windows and will
  run in unpredictable ways under it.




CREDITS AND STUFF                                                                      6.


  Programming and design.............   Sami Saarnio

  SVGA256.bgi driver.................   Jordan Hargraphix

  Project assintant..................   David Nespoli

  Beta-testing, help, ideas..........   Matt A. Knapp
                                        Kari Saarilahti
                                        Aki Ehoniemi
                                        Toni Raikkonen


  This software was developed using Turbo Pascal 7.0.

  This was a combined school and personal project that has taken ~200 hours of my time.

  After seeing lots of commercial crap from the internet I decided to do it better,
  because it was possible to do it much much better! I needed this program as much as
  you and give it to the world for free. I'd be glad if you greet me, whoever you are.

  I'd say...

  FREE WARES FOR FREE PEOPLE !

  You know the best things in life are free :)




About the author

  I'm an amateur composer and needed this software for my own use.

  I've composed since 1988, mainly with trackers. That means I do modules.
  I don't do crap techno, but many other styles with love to melody and harmony.
  I'm a known artist in the tiny field of demosceners around the globe. Means I'm known
  in the field, very underground to outsiders. I've received some rewards from different
  competitions. A month ago I won a soundcard and sample editing software from a global
  magazine called 'Music and Computers'. They didn't cover me though they said... :(

  In case you're interested more:

    http://www.helsinki.fi/~saarnio     -  get more info about me
    ftp://ftp.fm.org/pub/music/nutcase  -  this is my official distribution site

  I'm working in some demogroups, mainly in Kinetic PC.
  We've released some demos and a big musicdisk.

    http://www.hut.fi/~ksaarila         -  about Kinetic PC and our prods

  We're releasing a real smasher musicdisk soon... stay tuned.
  Go leach One Man Dog from above sites, my latest musicdisk.




LICENSE                                                                                7.


  This software is FREEWARE !

  If you use this software you should send greetings to the author.

  You can't charge anything of the software itself when distributing it.

  This software has to be distributed always in it's unmodified original package.

  I am not responsible for any damages this software causes to your hardware
  or anything else.

  If you have paid something for this software, you've been cheated!