Chordimate is a jQuery plugin to display and animate chords, modes, and scales on a guitar fretboard.
jQuery and a modern-ish browser (tested in Chrome and Firefox)
$(function() {
$('#fretboard').chordimate()
var c_maj = music_theory.make_scale('C', 'major')
var g_min = music_theory.make_scale('G', 'minor', 'desc')
$('#cmajor').click(function() {
$('#fretboard').chordimate('change', c_maj)
})
$('#gmin').click(function() {
$('#fretboard').chordimate('change', g_min)
})
})I don't claim that traditional music notation is dead, but its learning curve is steep. Tablature is more acessable, but it's limited:
- It only notates one fret position per string at a time
- It tries to mimic traditional notation where each note is prescribed. This can lead to an awful ocean of numerals, wherein locating differences is difficult.
- It's very difficult to synthesize any scale from the notes.
- It doesn't offer a particularly good way to indicate changes.
Chordimate tries to solve these things and encourage improvisation even if you don't know Myxolyidian mode or how to spell a Cmin#7b9.
The display is something like Guitar Chord Generator but this project doesn't claim to be an authority on any theory beyond the dead-simple. The idea here is to assist the creative process, not to suggest or impose anything. The user could, for example:
- Write a song
- Spell the chords
- Fit those chords into scales or modes
- Type those chords into Chordimate and line up the timing.
- Send that score to the rest of the band