Tabulature /Chord Diagram Software

AlsoRan · #1 07-26-2011, 11:42 AM

Hello. I am a newbie to the forum although l have been reading the forum's articles for quite some time. I've been playing guitar around 5 years and am on a long, slow road to jazz guitar proficiency.
What I need to know is can anyone recommend a guitar computer software program that is user friendly for writing out chord diagrams, guitar tab, and even standard notation. I want to be able to create individual chord diagrams and also write out my "compositions." Thanks!

fep · #2 07-26-2011, 01:01 PM

I'd say start with this, it's free:

.:: TuxGuitar ::. Open Source Tablature Editor :: TuxGuitar

This, imo, is much better and what I use; but doesn't fit your requirements of having tab and chord diagrams. However in the next version they are going to add tab and chord diagrams. Musescore is also free.

http://musescore.org/

AlsoRan · #3 07-26-2011, 01:12 PM

Thank you, Senor Fep. I will start my research with this software program. I am sure it will lead me to other software.

m78w · #4 07-27-2011, 03:15 PM

I use Sibelius, kind of pricey, but if you are a student or work in education it's about half price, you can check out my site to see examples of the program in action. Every musical example, tab and notation, on the site is done with sibelius.

fep · #5 07-27-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m78w

I use Sibelius, kind of pricey, but if you are a student or work in education it's about half price, you can check out my site to see examples of the program in action. Every musical example, tab and notation, on the site is done with sibelius.

Hi Matt,

Since you're an educator I recommend you take a look at Musescore. It works very much like Sibelius but without the all the features. I've been using MuseScore on my laptop, and I find it has everything I need.

Many of the keystrokes for entering notes, chord symbols etc. are the same as Sibelius (like ctrl K to enter a chord, numeric pad to change rhythmic duration of a note etc.)

I have Sibelius 6 and got it at the student price, even at the student price of $250 it's still expensive... do students really want to spend that much?

So if your students are looking for notation software but don't want to spend that much, imo, the go to software is MuseScore which is free.

m78w · #6 07-27-2011, 07:14 PM

Thanks man, I'll have to check it out!!

AlsoRan · #7 07-27-2011, 08:41 PM

You sure have a nice, quality website. When I get back to my personal computer on Friday, I will "Favorite" it. Again, thanks gentlemen. Once I get home, I am going to try your advice. Musescore seems a bit more economical, given my present level of musicianship.

m78w · #8 07-28-2011, 06:30 AM

Thanks man, glad you dig the site. yeah go with he cheaper software for now, if you find you need something more you can always upgrade later.

Ron Stern · #9 08-06-2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

What I need to know is can anyone recommend a guitar computer software program that is user friendly for writing out chord diagrams, guitar tab, and even standard notation. I want to be able to create individual chord diagrams and also write out my "compositions."

Eliminate Sibelius First from consideration. It offers a very limited selection of pre-determined non-modifiable diagrams, and that's it. I really don't know why they bothered.

I'm told Finale Print Music doesn't do chord diagrams at all.

Tux Guitar and Guitar Pro let you write chord diagrams by clicking on the staff, in the tab, and/or the on-screen fretboard and/or keyboard. You can name them whatever you want.

AlsoRan · #10 08-06-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Stern

Eliminate Sibelius First from consideration. It offers a very limited selection of pre-determined non-modifiable diagrams, and that's it. I really don't know why they bothered.

I'm told Finale Print Music doesn't do chord diagrams at all.

Tux Guitar and Guitar Pro let you write chord diagrams by clicking on the staff, in the tab, and/or the on-screen fretboard and/or keyboard. You can name them whatever you want.

Many thanks. I just got Guitar Pro 6 as a gift and I was (am) a little hesitant because I now there will be a learning curve, and probably a time-consuming one (for me!).

I would rather be playing my guitar but I have an extra day off this week so after a little housework, I will sit down and play with Guitar Pro!

Ron Stern · #11 08-07-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

Many thanks.

You bet. I just ordered it too, let's help each other.

fep · #12 08-07-2011, 02:30 PM

Imo...

I've got Guitar Pro 5, it's the first notation software I used (actually I believe it was GP4 when I started and then I went to GP5). I've stopped using it because I prefer Sibelius 6 and MuseScore.

I think MuseScore is great and is going to get better. Being free, I think it's going to be a problem for Finale and Sibelius. These three are the types of software you'd find being used at a college music program or among professional composers/arrangers. GP and Tuxguitar are more guitar oriented and aren't competing in the same market.

Guitar Pro is a bit nicer than Tuxguitar, but they are extremely similar. Because they are so similar I would think Tuxguitar, being free, would take over that part of the market.

AlsoRan · #13 08-07-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Stern

You bet. I just ordered it too, let's help each other.

I will keep you in mind, Ron. Thanks.