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PC-GUITAR Copyright 1991, M. Lee Murrah, 10 Cottage Grove Woods, S.E. Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 319-365-6530 Ver. 0.01 8-3-91 I. Introduction A. General PC-GUITAR is a PC program to help the user learn basic chords and notes on the guitar. PC-GUITAR is written in Turbo Pascal 5.5. B. Equipment Requirements PC-GUITAR will run on an IBM-PC or compatible having 256K of random access memory (it may run on less, but not guarantees) and a color graphics adapter (CGA). A Microsoft-compatible mouse is also supported. II. Music Theory A. Notes 1. General Music is comprised of notes, which are tones each having a specified pitch, or frequency. In a stringed instrument such as a guitar, a string vibrates back and forth (or up and down) when plucked. The rate at which which the string vibrates depends upon the length and tension of the string. The number of complete back-and-forth movements of a string along its entire length in one second is called its fundamental frequency. Strings also vibrate at higher frequencies in portions of a string. These are called "harmonics", and they give an instrument its distinct sound. However, harmonics are not important to the basic concepts to be discussed in this document. When a guitar string is "tuned", the tuning pegs are turned and the string thus tightened until the string has the proper pitch corresponding to a note in the Western music scale. The frets are positioned on the guitar fingerboard, or neck, at positions which will also produce notes in the Western music scale when the string is plucked as the string is pressed against the fret. 2. Writing Music Notes are written on a series of horizontal lines, together called a staff. There are two basic staffs, the treble and the bass. Guitar music is written using only the treble staff as follows: -A- G ---F--- E ---D--- C ---B--- A ---G--- F ---E--- D -C- B -A- G -F- E B. Musical Scales 1. Scales in General Scales are collections of related notes ordered by pitch which sound good together. The sound pitches that are defined as "notes" and the number and placement of notes in a scale is cultural. Oriental music sounds "off-key" to westerners because it uses a different music scale. To oriental cultures their scale sounds "good" while ours sounds "off-key" to them. African-derived blues music has out of key "blue notes" which do not sound out of key to African ears because the blue notes are part of African music scales. 2. The Chromatic Scale The Western musical scale is comprised of 12 pitches, or notes, which span a frequency range of 2:1 (an octave). The note with the highest pitch in an octave has a frequency which is twice the frequency of the note with the lowest pitch in the octave. The notes are located within the scale such that each note has a frequency of 1.0594630944 times the frequency of the next lower pitched note in the scale. The twelve notes are organized into 7 "natural" notes and 5 "sharp" notes. Sharp notes have a slightly higher frequency, or pitch, than natural notes. On a piano the natural notes are played on the white keys, and sharp notes are played on the black keys. Notes are assigned letters A through G, and sharps are indicated by adding the "#" symbol to the letter designation as follows: C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B Note that two of the natural notes, E and B, do not have sharp notes associated with them. Any sharp note can also be designated as a "flat" by adding the "b" symbol to the letter designation. For example, C# can is the same note as Db. Flat notes have a slightly lower pitch than natural notes. The scale above with flats is a follows: C,Db,D,Eb,E,F,Gb,G,Ab,A,Bb,B Notes at the same relative position in each octave are given the same letter name, and any note in an octave always has twice the frequency as the same note in the adjacent lower pitched octave and 1/2 the frequency of the same note in the adjacent higher pitched octave. Thus the names of the notes in the scale repeat as you move up or down in pitch, and the scale shown above could be rearranged as follows: D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B,C,C# This "D" scale is named for its first note, and any other scale can be named and written in like manner. There are thus 12 major possible scales in the chromatic basic scale, each named for a note in the scale, depending upon the starting note. In the chromatic scale, "middle C", which is in the center of a piano keyboard, is tuned to a frequency of 130.8 cycles per second. In other words, middle C which is located at the third fret on the 5th string from the bottom of the guitar fingerboard vibrates up and down 130.8 times per second. 3. The Major Scale For psycnology and acculturation reasons some notes in the chromatic scale sound better together than others. These notes are grouped and played together in "major scales". Each major scale starts with the note letter after which it is named and contains 7 notes selected from the 1st,3rd,5th,6th,8th,10th, and 12th notes in the chromatic scale. Thus, the "C major" scale is derived as follows" C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B - - - - - - - 1 3 5 6 8 10 12 and contains the following notes: C,D,E,F,G,A, and B. Note that the "C major" scale contains no sharp (or flat) notes. It is the only scale without sharps or flats. 4. Musical Keys As with the basic chromatic scale there are 12 major keys depending upon the starting note in the scale. The scale shown in the previous section is the "C" major scale. The "C" major scale is also known as the "key of C major". The key of "D major" is derived similarly as follows: D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B,C,C# - - - - - - - 1 3 5 6 8 10 12 and contains the following notes: D,E,F#,G,A,B,C#. Note that due to the irregular occurrence of sharps in the scale, each key has a different number of sharps (or flats depending upon how how you look at it). "D major" contains two sharps. 5. The Pentatonic Scale The pentatonic scale is a special subset of the major scale which contains all the notes in the major scale except the 4th and 7th notes. The misssing notes correspond to the 6th and 10 notes in the chromatic scale, and thus the pentatonic scale includes notes 1,3,5,8 and 10 from the chromatic scale. To reduce confusion all subsequent rankings will be made in reference to the chromatic scale. The pentatonic scale in C is constructed as follows: C,D,E,F,G,A,B - - - - - 1 3 5 8 10 The pentatonic scale is a simplified scale often used in folk and blues music. Any two notes in the pentatonic scale played in succession sound melodic. This is not necessarily the case in the full major scale. 6. The Bluegrass Scale This scale is often called the "blues" scale, but it is commonly used in both country and and bluegrass music. Another type of scale is now commonly called the blues scale, and thus I call this scale the bluegrass scale since I use the term "blues" scale for the other scale as described below. The bluegrass scale uses the 5 notes in the pentatonic scale plus a "blue note" comprising the flattened 5th note (same as sharpened 3rd note) in the major scale. The blue note is often called a "passing" note since it usually is used only in passing from one note in the scale to another and never as an ending note. The bluegrass scale in the key of G, which is a very common key in bluegrass music, is as follows: G,G#,A,A#,B,C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F# - - - - - - 1 3 5b 5 8 10 Sometimes the flattened 8th note (in the key of G, C#) is also used as a blue note. 7. The Blues Scale The blues scale is a pentatonic scale consisting of the 1st, 4th, and 5th notes of the major scale plus the flattened 3rd and 7th notes of the major scale. This translates into notes 1,4,6,8 and 11 from the major scale as follows: E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B,C,C#,D,D# - - - - - 1 4 6 8 11 D. Chords 1. General Some notes in a key sound good when played at the same time (this is called "harmony"). When 3 or more such notes are played simultaneously, they are called a "chord". Chords are given letter names in the same manner as notes. A chord is named after the dominant, or "root", note in chord. Thus, a "C" chord contains the note "C" plus at least two other notes which harmonize with it. 2. Types of Chords There are two types of chords, open and barre, which are based upon how they are formed. a. Open Chords Open chords are the most common types of chords and are formed using the full length of the strings. Thus, open chords are usually fingered near the end of the guitar fingerboard and unfingered stings are played "open". b. Barre Chords Barre chords are formed by moving open chord shapes up the fingerboard. In order to preserve the relationship between the fingered notes and the formerly open string notes, a finger, or barre, is placed across the neck in the same relative position as the end of the guitar strings in open chords. For each fret the barred chord is moved up the neck, the chord sounds a chord which is one letter higher in pitch. For example, if the E chord shape is played with a barre one fret up the fingerboard, the F chord is formed. In fact, if you closely observe the open F chord, you will find that it is actually a truncated barre chord using the E chord shape. 3. Chord Keys Like notes chords are grouped into keys based upon the dominant note in the dominant chord. The key of "C" thus contains the C,D,E,F,G,A,and B chords, and the key of "D" contains the D,E,F#,G,A,B,and C# chords. Depending upon the notes used to make up a chord, it may be called minor (e.g., "Dm"), flat (e.g., "Bb"), seventh (e.g., "G7" and "C#7"), etc. 4. Chord Numbers Chords in a key are given a Roman numeral depending upon its position in the key. The chords in the key of "C" are numbered as follows: C D E F G A B - -- --- -- - -- --- I II III IV V VI VII Similarly, in the key of D, they are numbered as follows: D E F# G A B C# - -- --- - - -- --- I II III IV V VI VII As the two preceding examples indicate, Roman numeral are usually used to represent the chord position number. Usually the II,III, and VI chords are played as minor chords, and the V chord is played as a seventh chord. Thus, the key of "C" would have the following chords: C Dm Em F G7 Am B and the key of D would have the following: D Em F#m G A7 Bm C# 5. Chord Progressions When chords are used in a song, certain chords tend to follow others in a fixed "proression". A very common progression is the I-IV-V progression. In the key of "C" this progression would use the C,F, and G7. chords. In the key of "D", it would use the D,G, and A7 chords. Another common progression is the ragtime progrression which follows the I-VI-II-V chord sequence. In the key of "C" this progression would use the C, Am, Em, and G7 chords. E. Music 1. Bars (Measures) Music is created when notes and/or chords are played together in sequence. In written music notes and chords are collected into groups called "bars", or in more formal language called "measures". A bar or measure is the collection of notes or chords between vertical lines (technically this is a bar, but the space between two bars is also informally called a bar) crossing the horizontal lines. 2. Beat and Tempo Notes and chords are played relative to regular time scale called a "beat". The frequency with which the beat repeats is called the "tempo". 3. Note Duration When notes and chords are played some are sounded longer than others. Notes are divided into whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and so on. As the names indicate, the duration of a half note is one-half of a whole note, for example. Much guitar music uses quarter notes. 4. Time Signature The beats and duration of the notes grouped together in a bar is called the time signature. Three very common time signatures are "4/4 time" (common time), a bar of which contains 4 beats, and "3/4 time" (waltz time), a bar of which contains 3 beats, and "2/4 time" (march time), a bar of which contains 2 beats. The second number means that each quarter note is given 1 beat. Thus, a half note would be given 2 beats, and a whole note 4 beats. Much guitar music uses 4/4 time. 5. Emphasis Some notes and chords in a measure are given more emphasis than others. In 4/4 time the first and third notes or chords are given a heavy emphasis and the second and fourth notes are given a light emphasis. In 3/4 time the first note or chord is given heavy emphasis, and the second and third notes are given light emphasis. III. Basic Guitar Information A. Parts of a Guitar A guitar consists of three basic parts: the body which amplifies the sound (acoustic only -- electrics usually have a solid body and use a pickup with amplifier) and over which strings are plucked or strummed, the fingerboard ("neck") where the fingers are used to select notes, and the tuning head where tuning pegs are used to tension the strings to change the tone of the strings. Guitars come in both 6 string and 12 string varieties. However, a 12 string guitar has 6 pairs of strings, each pair of which is tuned to the same note. This document assumes a 6 string guitar, but the principles are the same. The fingerboard has 6 strings and either 12 or 14 frets on the fingerboard itself. The guitar body also has several frets that are made accessible with cutaways on some guitars. B. Notes on a Guitar The notes through the first five frets on a guitar "fingerboard" are shown in the diagram below. Notes can, of course, be played at other frets on the guitar, but for the sake of simplicity only the "primary" playing area is shown in the diagram. The diagram is oriented with the guitar body to the right, tuning pegs to the left, and the fatter strings at the bottom, as if the player were holding the guitar in the normal playing position and looking down at the fingerboard. The frets are numbered 1-5, and the "nut", which is essentially the fret at the end of the string, is labelled as "fret 0". At the left the strings are numbered from bottom to top as will be used in PC-GUITAR. (Bottom of Neck) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 +E+-F-+-F#+-G-+-G#+-A-+-A#+-B-+-C-+-C#+-D-+-D#+-E-+--- (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +B+-C-+-C#+-D-+-D#+-E-+-F-+-F#+-G-+-G#+-A-+-A#+-B-+--- (2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +G+-G#+-A-+-A#+-B-+-C-+-C#+-D-+-D#+-E-+-F-+-F#+-G-+--- (3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +D+=D#+=E=+=F=+=F#+=G=+=G#+=A=+=A#+=B=+=C=+=C#+=D=+=== (4) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +A+=A#+=B=+=C=+=C#+=D=+=D#+=E=+=F=+=F#+=G=+=G#+=A=+=== (5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +E+=F=+=F#+=G=+=G#+=A=+=A#+=B=+=C=+=C#+=D=+=D#+=E=+=== (6) ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | || | | | | | | | | || +---+---+---+---+--(etc.)--> Pick and | | | || | Strum Display -+ | | |+- Nut Frets | | | Guitar Body --+ | + Open Notes | | | +-- Tuning Pegs Guitar Fingerboard If a string is played without fretting ("open"), then the open notes shown at the left end of the strings are produced. The notes on a guitar form an orderly pattern in accordance with the 12 note chromatic scale discussed above. Each note in the chromatic scale is associated with a fret on the fingerboard. The twelfth fret plays a note which is one octave higher than the open string. The notes on each string continue their orderly pattern beyond the 5th fret, but the guitar is normally tuned such that the same notes are positioned vertically on the 6 strings for easy reach without excessive hand motion. As a result of this tuning method, the note at the 5th fret (4th fret on string 3) is the same as the note sounded by the next higher pitched (lower-numbered) open string. This is the basis for the relative tuning method which will be discussed later in this document. With only a few exceptions all the notes shown above can be played at other locations on the fingerboard. C. Picking and Strumming 1. "Pick" and "Strum" "Pick" means to pluck a single string, while "strum" means to quickly brush across several strings. A note is picked, but a chord is strummed. 2. Basic Strum The basic strum consists of a downward stroke across the active strings for a chord. Those marked with an "X" are not strummed. A common variation on the basic strum is to immediately brush back across the strings in an upward stroke. Both downward and upward strokes are done within a single beat. 3. Pick-Strum Combination The pick-strum style, which is common to country and bluegrass styles, involves picking a bass note on the first beat and strumming the treble (bottom three) strings on the second beat. This creates a characteristic "boom-chuck" sound. A common variation on the pick-strum style is to draw the pick back upwardly across one or more of the treble strings after the downstroke. This creates a characteristic "boom-chuck-a" sound commonly heard in the bluegrass style. Another variation is to play an alternating bass note on every other bass beat. D. Special Playing Techniques A guitarist can achieve special effects by using any one of several special techniques: 1. Hammer-ons Shortly after playing a note the guitarist presses a higher note on the vibrating string. If this is done quickly enough the string continues to vibrate at a higher pitch. 2. Pull-offs The pull-off is the opposite of the hammer-on. After playing a note the guitarist pull his finger off the fret and quickly frets a lower note. 3. String Bending The guitarist frets and plays a note and then pushes the string laterally across the fret. This increases the tension in the string and causes the pitch of the note to be changed. The string can also be reverse bent by pressing it laterally before plucking the string and then releasing it. String bending is fundamental to blues and rock guitar and is responsible for the screaming notes in those musical styles. 4. Slides After playing a note the guitarist quickly slides his finger to another fret. Alternately, the guitarist can use a metal or glass slide to achieve the whining sound of a steel or Hawaiian guitar. IV. PC-GUITAR Basic Features A. Display Screen Layout The PC-GUITAR display screen is divided into several display areas from top to bottom as follows: 1. The Message (Top) Line The topmost line of the screen displays the PC-GUITAR program version on the left, the current program function in the middle of the line and exit/control key information on the right. 2. Fingerboard The fingerboard area consists of a simulation of the first twelve frets of a guitar fingerboard with the higher pitched (thinner) strings on top and the lower (thicker) strings on the bottom. 3. Menu Area The area below the fingerboard is used for menus and information display. 4. Status (Bottom) Line The bottommost line of the screen displays the current status of several program parameters. In quiz functions, the right portion of the status line displays scoring information. B. The Guitar Fingerboard 1. Layout As shown in the following illustration, PC-GUITAR displays the six strings and the first 12 frets on a standard guitar. The strings are numbered 1 through 6 from the bottom of the fingerboard to the top. The frets are numbered 1 through 12 from the end of the guitar neck toward the guitar body. The "nut" is given the fret number 0 since playing an open string can be viewed as fretting the 0th fret. (Bottom of Neck) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 +-+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--- (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--- (2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--- (3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+=== (4) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+=== (5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+=== (6) ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | | || | | | | | | | | | || +---+---+---+---+--(etc.)--> Pick and | | | | || | Strum Display -+ | | | |+- Nut Frets | | | | Guitar Body --+ | | + String Status Display | | | +-- Finger Numbers | +-- Tuning Pegs PC-GUITAR Fingerboard 2. String Size Strings 4-6 are represented with double lines to indicate that they are the larger diameter bass strings. The smaller diameter treble strings 1-3 are represented by single lines. 3. Fingerboard Displays i. Fretting Symbols The locations at which a string should be pressed with the finger is indicated by a fretting symbol to the left of the correct fret. The fretting symbol is normally a solid rectangle, but the actual notes corresponding to the the fret positions can be displayed by pressing ALT-F or selecting SYMBOL from the menu when available. In some functions a "o" is used to represent a secondary note in a scale. ii. Strum and Pick Symbol When strings are to be strummed or picked, this is indicated by displaying triangular symbols in the strum display area on the affected strings. For the alternating pick-strum style, the order in which the bass strings should be picked is indicated by the numberals "1" and "2" just to the right of the pick symbols on the appropriate strings in the strum display area. iii. String Status The status of strings which are not fretted is shown in the string status area at the left end of the fingerboard. If the string is not to be played, an "X" is displayed in that area on the string affected. Similarly, strings which are to be played "open", i.e., unfretted, are indicate with an "O" in the string status area. C. The Status Line The bottommost line of the screen displays the current status of several program parameters from left to right as follows: 1. Normal Display a. Current Musical Key ("KEY") The key may be set to any one of the twelve keys: C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, and B. b. Current Scale ("SCALE") The scale type may be set to either of the following: i. Chromatic - all the notes in the Western music scale. ii. Major - 7 notes from the chromatic scale. This scale is also called the "diantonic". iii. Pentatonic - The major scale without the 4th and 7th notes. This is a very melodic scale which serves as the basis for most folk music of European and African origins. iv. Bluegrass - Pentatonic scale with an extra blue note. This scale is also called the blues scale, but it is often used in bluegrass and country music, and that the term "bluegrass" is used to distinguish it from a more common "blues" scale. v. Blues - An altered pentatonic scale often used in blues. The scale type is set with the ALT-S key combination. c. Active Chords ("ACTIVE CHORDS") There are literally hundreds of chords, but you will use only a few of them. PC-GUITAR displays the following sets of chords: i. A basic set of chords ii. Barre chords based upon the A, C, E and G chord shapes. iii. Chord sets in the keys of A, B, C, D, E, F and iv. All the chords in the PC-GUITAR database. The currently active set can be changed using the ALT-A key combination. d. Finger Symbol ("SYMBOL") This indicates whether the rectanglar or the actual note is used as the finger symbol on the fingerboard. This is toggled using the ALT-F key combination. 2. Quiz Display In quiz functions the right half of the status line is converted to a scoring display showing the number of right answers ("Right"), number of wrong answers ("Wrong"), number of correct answers in a row ("Row"), and the percentage correct answers ("Pct"). D. Music Display Symbols When used with a note the following symbols have the indicated meanings: # - sharp e.g. "F#" b - flat e.g. "Bb" m - minor e.g. "Am" E. Chords Supported by PC-GUITAR There are literally hundreds of guitar chords, but the average guitarist uses only a few dozen. PC-GUITAR supports all the chords in the seven major keys, barre chords based upon the A,D,E, and G shapes, plus several other commonly used chords. IV. Basic Operation A. Running PC-GUITAR 1. Installation The CONFIG.SYS file must be edited to authorize 20 open files. This can be done by using an editor or word processor (text mode) to add the following line to the CONFIG.SYS file: FILES=20 2. Program Startup To run PC-GUITAR, enter the following at the DOS command prompt: PCGUITAR followed by a RETURN or ENTER. When the title screen appears, press any key when indicated to proceed to the main menu. B. Program Control 1. Menu Selections PC-GUITAR is organized around a series of menus. To begin any function shown on a menu, simply press the key indicated on the menu. PC-GUITAR uses a point-and-shoot menu system. A highlight bar may be moved from one selection to another with a mouse or the arrow keys. The highlighted item can be selected with either the ENTER key or the left mouse button. Items can also be selected by pressing the key corresponding to the menu item selector in most functions. Menus are usually divided into two types of selctions. The main selections are in capital and lower case letters, and program control functions are indicated by all capital letters. The program control functions include KEY (musical key selection), SYMBOL (fingering symbol used on fingerboard), SET (select chord set), HELP and QUIT. 2. Mouse Support PC-GUITAR supports a Microsoft-compatible, two-button mouse. The left mouse button corresponds to the ENTER key on the keyboard, and the right mouse button corresponds to the ESC key. If a mouse is not available, the ENTER and ESC keys can be used for the left and right buttons, respectively, and the arrow keys perform the horizontal and vertical movements of the mouse. 3. Screen Control Keys The following ALT key combinations are available at any menu: ALT-A - Select the active chord set ALT-F - Select the fingering symbol ALT-K - Select the active key ALT-S - Select the active scale Movement of the cursor bar within menus and some functions which point directly to the PC-GUITAR fingerboard is controlled with the arrow keys. The HOME key moves to the first selection, and the END key to the last selection. The ESC key selects the QUIT option in any menu. 4. Exiting PC-GUITAR Functions All functions in PC-GUITAR may be exited or aborted using the ESC key or right mouse button. C. Music Parameters Several music parameters can be selected in the various menus when relevant to the operation of the selected program function. Not all parameters are available in every function. 1. Key When you desire to change musical key, choose the KEY selection from the menu. Each time KEY is selected, the "Key" indicator on the status line moves through the 12 keys one at a time. The key can also be changed using the ALT-K key combination at any menu. 2. Chord Set In the chord functions, the user can select any one of several chord sets by choosing SET from the menu. These include all the chords supported by PC-GUITAR, the basic chords needed to play most simple music, and the 6 chords in the 12 keys. The chordset can also be selected using the ALT-A key combination. 3. Fingering Symbol The user can select either a block symbol or the note name to indicate the fingerboard fingering locations. The fingering symbol can also be toggled using the ALT-F key combination. D. Help A. Main Help The main help screen can be shown by pressing the ALT-H key combination. B. Specific Help Help screens specific to a function can be invoked by selecting the HELP option when presented in a menu. E. Exiting PC-GUITAR Any function in PC-GUITAR can be exited using either the ESC key or the right mouse button, or by selecting the QUIT menu selection. V. Program Functions A. Main Menu The main menu presents the four basic functions of PC-GUITAR as follows: +-----------------------+ | | | 1 - Tune 4 - Music | | 2 - Chords 5 - QUIT | | 3 - Notes | | | +-----------------------+ B. Tuning the Guitar The tune function displays the following menu: +------------------------------+ | | | 1 - E 4 - D 7 - HELP | | 2 - B 5 - A 8 - QUIT | | 3 - G 6 - E | | | +------------------------------+ The numbers correspond to the strings numbers 1-6 from the bottom of the fingerboard to the top. To tune a string, press the number corresponding to the desired string. PC-GUITAR produces a tone via the PC's speaker, and you should adjust the tuning peg for the string until the string has the same pitch as the speaker tone. The tone may be turned off with the DEL key. PC-GUITAR also indicates the frets to be pressed and the strings to be picked for relative tuning. In other words when the indicated two strings are fretted as shown (one is always played "open") and are picked as indicated, both strings should have the same tone if they are in tune. C. Learning Chords 1. Chords Menu The learn chord function displays the following menu selections: +------------------------------------+ | | | 1 - Display Chords 3 - Play Chords | | 2 - Chord Quiz 4 - QUIT | | | +------------------------------------+ 2. Displaying Chords a. Chord Display The first selection displays an active chord chosen from the menu window. For each chord the follwoing infomation is displayed: - The chord fingering pattern. - The strings that are to be played open ('O' is displayed in the string status area at the left of the fingerboard). - The strings that are not to be played ('X' is displayed in the string status area at the left of the fingerboard). - The strings to be strummed as shown by the triangular pick symbol in the play area of the fingerboard. - The primary and secondary string to be picked in the pick and strum methods as shown by the numbers "1" and "2" in the play area of the fingerboard. Each chord is displayed a note at a time and each note is sounded briefly via the PC speaker. b. Changing Chord Sets A new chord set can chosen by selecting SET from the chord menu and pointing to the desired set using the arrow keys or a mouse. 3. Taking a Chord Quiz The chord quiz tests your knowledge of the various active chords. When PC-GUITAR displays a chord fingering pattern on the fingerboard, you should enter the appropriate chord selection from the menu display. A cumulative score is shown on the status line. A new chord set can be chosen in the same way as in the display function above. 4. Playing Chords This function permits the common I-IV-V chord progression to be played in several common keys. D. Learning Notes 1. Notes Menu The learn notes function displays the following menu selections: +--------------------------------------+ | | | 1 - Play Notes 3 - Display Scales | | 2 - Record Notes 4 - QUIT | | | +--------------------------------------+ 2. Playing Notes The play notes function displays the following menu selections: +-----------------------------+ | | | 1 - Fingerboard 4 - SYMBOL | | 2 - SCALE 5 - QUIT | | 3 - KEY | | | +-----------------------------+ To individually play the notes on strings 1-6 at frets 0-12, select "Fingerboard". Simply move the finger symbol to the desired string and fret and press ENTER or the left mouse button. The sound automatically ceases when the finger symbol is moved. The sound can also be stopped using the DEL key. To exit to the menu, press ESC or the right mouse button. The type of scale may be changed using the SCALE selection (also ALT-S), the key using the KEY selection (also ALT-K) and the symbol used to display fingerings can be changed using the SYMBOL selection (also ALT-F). 3. Recording Notes The record notes function is very similar to the Play Notes function and displays the following menu: +---------------------------------------------+ | | | 1 - Fingerboard 4 - Memory XXX 7 - KEY | | 2 - Play 5 - Erase 8 - SYMBOL | | 3 - Timing XXX 6 - Scale | | | +---------------------------------------------+ When the memory is activated with the Memory XXX selection, up to 10 notes played on the fingerboard, which is accessed with the "Fingerboard" selection, are recorded. These may be played back using the "Play" selection. The ON/OFF status the memory is incated directly in the menu. If you would like to give different time values to each note, then choose "Timing " and play the notes one at a time by pressing any any key. The ON/OFF status the "Timing" selection is incated directly in the menu. The timing pattern will be added to memory, and the new timing pattern will be used the next time "Play" is selected. To erase the memory, select "Erase". 4. Displaying Scales PC-GUITAR displays the fingerings for five scales as follows: Chromatic Scale Major Scale Pentatonic Scale Bluegrass Scale Blues Scale The root note, the "blue" note and other notes in the scale are indicated in colors shown by choosing the HELP selection. Common passing notes not in the scale are shown with the "o" symbol. Scales and keys can be changed by choosing the appropriate menu selection. E. Music Theory 1. Music Menu The music selection provides several music-related functions which may be selected from the following menu: +-----------------------------+ | | | 1 - Notes 4 - Metronome | | 2 - Intervals 5 - QUIT | | 3 - Compose | | | +-----------------------------+ 2. The Treble Staff Display The music theory selection displays a treble music staff showing all notes on the guitar fretboard through the 5th fret on the first string. Most of the various music functions display notes or note names on the staff. 3. Learning to Read and Hear Notes a. Notes Menu Selection "1" from the music menu displays the following notes menu: +-------------------------+ | | | 1 - Show All 5 - ERASE | | 2 - Scale 6 - KEY | | 3 - Pitches 7 - QUIT | | 4 - Read | | | +-------------------------+ Selection "5" erases the staff, and selection "6" changes the key. b. Displaying Notes All the notes in the currently selected scale may be displayed on the treble staff with selection "1". c. Sound and Display Scale Notes The notes on the staff in the currently selected key are displayed and sounded one at a time with selection "2". d. Hear Pitch Differences Selection "3" from the notes menu sounds two different notes from the currently selected key and displays the following menu: +-------------------------+ | | | 1 - Higher 4 - DISPLAY | | 2 - Lower 5 - QUIT | | 3 - REPEAT | | | +-------------------------+ | | +-------------------------+ The user is asked to enter a "1" if the second note has a higher pitch than the first and a "2" if the second note has a lower pitch. Selection "3" repeats the two notes, and selection "4" displays both notes on the treble staff. e. Read Notes Selection "4" in the notes menu displays the following menu: +--------------------------+ | | | 1 - C 4 - F 7 - B | | 2 - D 5 - G 8 - KEY | | 3 - E 6 - A 9 - QUIT | | | +--------------------------+ A note from the currently selected key is sounded and displayed on the staff. The user is asked to enter the selection corresponding to the note. The key can be changed with selection "8". A key change also changes the note selections displayed in the menu. 3. Learing to Read and Hear Intervals a. Intervals Menu Selection "2" from the music menu displays the following menu: +------------------------+ | | | 1 - Introduce 3 - Hear | | 2 - Read 4 - QUIT | | | +------------------------+ Selections "1"-"3" all ask for an interval to be selected from the following menu: +------------------------------------+ | | | 1 - Second 4 - Fifth 7 - Eighth | | 2 - Third 5 - Sixth 8 - Random | | 3 - Fourth 6 - Seventh 9 - QUIT | | | +------------------------------------+ | | +------------------------------------+ Selection "8" is active only in selection "1". b. Introducing Intervals With the "1" selection, the user is introduced to the sound of second through eighth (octave) intervals by selecting "1"-"7" from the menu. A random interval can be selected with an "8" from the menu. Each interval displays a memory aid in the lower box area. These are ususally fragments from the start of familiar tunes. The words that contain the interval are shown in all capital letters. For example, a third is illustrated by the tune from "Mary had a little lamb". The first note of the interval is "Ma" from "Mary" and the second note is "had". In other words the musical distance from "Ma" to "had" is a third interval. Since the direction of the intervals is selected at random, the tune will in some cases be reversed from that shown in the related tune. c. Reading Intervals The "2" selection sounds two notes of an interval and displays them on the treble staff. The user is asked to enter the selection "1"="7" which identifies the interval. A cumulative score is displayed on the lower status line. d. Hearing Intervals The "3" selection is like the "2" selection except that notes are not displayed on the treble staff. 4. Compose Music Selection "3" from the music menu permits the user to compose and play his own selections or enter and play a tune from sheet music. The compose selection displays the following menu: +----------------------------------------+ | | | 1 - Staff 4 - Erase 7 - QUIT | | 2 - Rhythm OFF 5 - Files | | 3 - Play OFF 6 - SETTINGS | | | +----------------------------------------+ | | | (Sheet Area) | | | | | +----------------------------------------+ a. Entering Notes Notes can be entered into the sheet area from the treble staff and played using selection "1". To select a note either press the up or down arrow keys or move an active mouse up or down. To enter the note onto the sheet area at the cursor ("."), either press RETURN on the keyboard or the left mouse button. Previously selected notes can be played by moving the cursor left or right using the right and left arrow keys. The HOME key moves the cursor to the beginning of the music, and END moves it to the end. The up and down arrow keys are active only when the cursor is at the end of the line or when the INS key is used. The note at the cursor can be deleted using the DEL key. The sound can be turned on and off with the SPACE bar. b. Loading Previously-Saved Music To load music previously created using the compose function, use selection "5", which displays the following files menu: +------------------------------+ | | | 1 - Load File 3 - Directory | | 2 - Save File 4 - Quit | | | +------------------------------+ | | | (Sheet Area) | | | | | +------------------------------+ Enter selection "1" and enter a valid file name when prompted. A directory may be displayed using selection "3". c. Playing Notes Notes entered using selection "1" or loaded from disk using selection "5" may be played using selection "3". While playing, the menu will indicate "Play ON"; and as each note is played, the period cursor (".") indicates the current note. d. Setting Rhythm When notes are entered, they are all given the same time value. To provide different time values for the notes, enter selection "2". When "Rhythn ON" appears in the menu, you can play the notes sequentially by pressing the ALT key, which you can think of as a one key piano. The time that the ALT key is depressed and the time until the next note is played are stored. The next time selection "e" is chosen, the tune stored will be played using the stored times. e. Saving Tunes Tunes may be saved to a disk file by presing the "5" selection and choosing the "2" selction from the files menu. Enter a filename when prompted. h. Changing Keys and Transposing i. Erasing a Tune A tune may be erased from memory with selection "4". j. Changing Settings 5. Metronome The "metronome" appears in a window and sounds clicks in accordance with the time signature and tempo (BPM= beats per minute) shown in the lower right box area in the the window. The number of the beat is shown in the box area directly under the metronome needle. The following function keys are active during the metronome function: F1 - Increase BPM by 1 F2 - Decrease BPM by 1 F3 - Increase BPM by 10 F4 - Decrease BPM by 10 F5 - Toggle between 4/4 and 3/4 time VI. We Need Your Feedback and Help! A. Feedback It is my goal that PC-GUITAR be absolutely the best guitar training program available anywhere, commercial or otherwise. If it is not the best, I will endeavor to make it so. To achieve this I NEED YOUR INPUT! Please let me know what you like about PC-GUITAR, what you don't like about it, any bugs or cosmetic defects you have discovered, what you would like to see changed or added, etc. If you have used another guitar program that you like better, tell me the name of the program and why you like it better. Please take the time to answer and return the questions in the registration form contained in the file FEEDBACK.FRM to me. If the registration form is inadequate, write me a letter. If a letter won't do the job, give me a call! Your help would be much appreciated. Remember PC-GUITAR is for you! So tell me what you want it to do for you. Please give me your constructively frank opinion. B. Help Others Learn about PC-GUITAR If PC-GUITAR is helpful to you, you can help others learn about it in the following ways: 1. Give a copy to your friends. 2. Upload PC-GUITAR to your local computer bulletin board system. 3. Leave a message on your computer bulletin board recommending PC-GUITAR. C. Correspondence with Author The author is happy to correspond by mail with users, but PLEASE send a SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE!!!