Test my Guitar Scales and Chords program

[EL34]

I wrote this Windows program for me personally, but I thought I would share it.

It shows all the notes for scales and chords on a 24 fret guitar neck

You can pick a key, then pick a scale or a chord and the notes show up on the fretboard.
You can then click on any string position and see the notes appear in red on the fretboard.

I added several scales and chords, but I am open to add more of each if they are useful.

Anyone want to give it a whirl?

You don't have to install anything, the program works in stand alone mode (so you can just delete it to get rid of it)
Works on Windows 7 and XP in 32 bit mode.
This happens automatically even though you may have a 64 bit system
Probably works on Windows 8 also, but I don't have W8 to test it

Download this file to your desktop - GuitarNeck1.zip - Most recent version 01/07/2013
Here's the file link on my server - right click on link below - save target as - save to your desktop
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/Music/files/GuitarNeck1.zip


Right click on the GuitarNeck1.zip file and choose Extract All
If Extract all is not available on your computer, you may need winzip or 7-zip (free and a great program)
http://www.7-zip.org/

Once you have extracted the file you will see a folder named GuitarNeck1 on your desktop (or where ever you extracted it)
Look in the GuitarNeck1 folder
Double click on GuitarNeck1.exe to start the program
There is an icon file in there also with the same icon as the .exe file (you want the .exe file)




Your computer must have the .net 4 frame work installed
Many programs these days use .net and so it's a good idea to make sure you have the latest version
You can get it on Windows update or I have a direct link below

Here's a link to windows update
http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/vistadefault.aspx?ln=en-us

You can here and install it also
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851


The instructions for choosing keys, cjhords and scales show up on the screen and in a textbox

Give it a test spin and see how you like it

Here's a screen shot showing that I selected the Key of E, Spanish Gypsy scale and then I clicked on the notes you see in red
The blue notes are the Root notes of the Key, which is E in this example

[jojokeo]

Is this ok for Windows 7? thx Doug.

[EL34]

Yes, that is what I am using it on, Windows 7
Works on XP also

It is not a program you install, so it runs in stand alone mode

The screen shots you see in this post were made with my program
http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=14900.0


I'll just uploaded the most recent version
I added some more scales and changed the color of the fretboard

[sluckey]

Here's the error I get...

[EL34]

Sorry, didn't think about that but I assumed all newer computers would already have .net 4

Many programs these days use the .net framework and so it's a good idea to install it
Windows update has the .net 4 there where you get your regular windows updates

It would be one of the optional updates because it's not a critical update

you may already have .net 1, 2, 3.5, etc
.net 4 is the latest update to the .net framework

Here's a link to windows update
http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/vistadefault.aspx?ln=en-us

You can here and install it also
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851

[sluckey]

Works now. THX

[EL34]

Great!
If you guys want any new scales or chords added, let me know and I will update the program
You two are the first ones that even took notice to this and I posted it several months ago

Thanks for testing it

[SILVERGUN]

OK,,,I was being a mental midget....

I had the "views' set to large thumbnail, and I was seeing what I thought were just icon files, inside the uncompressed folder

DUH

Got it now 
Thanks again......very cool

[EL34]

Ah ok
You have your file views set so it does not show the extention

.exe, gif, .xls, etc

You can change that easily

[SLW]

I just tried it with my XP machine and everything works well.  I think it is great.

[EL34]

Cool,
You guys have any suggestions for additional scales and chords, let me know

Also any additional features

[SILVERGUN]

From what I believe the E minor(natural) scale to be,,,,this one looks incorrect to me
 
I think the Eb should be a D

[EL34]

I figured out that I needed to rename the minor key to harmonic minor and then it was correct

Try melodic minor descending for the minor key you are thinking of

I am posting a new version in post 1

Changed the minor key name and now the root notes of scales and chords show up as blue dots

Here's a shot of melodic minor descending 

[SILVERGUN]

OK,,,just want you to know that I'm not trying to bust your balls...

Just part of the R+D team 

[EL34]

I had to go to the web to see exactly what scale I had there

How do you like the Blue dot indicating all the root notes?

[SILVERGUN]

Love it.......anything to make them stand out

I imagine guys will print these out and try to follow along,,,,so maybe a brighter color???  so if they print in B+W it will pop out

just a thought

EDIT:
Actually I printed 1 out on my B+W laser,,,and you can't even tell the difference between green, red, or blue,,,,so nevermind

[EL34]

I updated the program again
Now the scales and chords are in .csv files instead of being hard coded into the program

You can edit the files and add your own scales and chords if you want
You can look inside the files to see the scales and chords that are already in there

The format for each line is
Name of the Chord or Scale.0.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11

Scale example:
Spanish Gypsy.0.1.4.5.7.8.10
Just think about one string on the guitar
The numbers always start at the root note of 0
Then if the next note in the scale is one fret higher, the next number would be 1
The next fret up is 4 away from the E and so on 5.7.8.10

So for the Spanish Gypsy scale in the key of E the notes would be
0.1.4.5.7.8.10
E, F, G#, A, B, C, D

[SILVERGUN]

That's really very cool....
I was gonna ask if you could write that in,,,but seeing how I couldn't do it myself,,,,I wasn't gonna ask you to put more work into something else that you have given us all for free.