Kordo Interactive Guitar Chords & Tab

How to write Chords

The usual way: G7   Cm   F   Amaj7.  You must use Capital letters.

  • Use spaces between chords
  • # = sharp; b = flat
  • m = minor; maj = major
  • Other chord types: sus dim aug add
  • Variations: m, 6, m6, 69, 7, m7, maj7, 7b5, 7#5,
    m7b5, 7b9, 9, m9, maj9, add9, 13, sus2, sus4, dim7
  • / = repeat previous chord
  • | = bar line
  • || = final bar line

Instructions More Advanced Chords      Writing Tab       

Kordo is based on the JTAB Library, an open source project created and maintained by Paul Gallagher.

More advanced chords

Chords in different positions

Follow the chord by the position number.
For example, C:2 means a C chord in the second position, in the shape of an A chord.
This system is known as the C A G E D approach to playing chords. Try it now….

Frets & Fingers for any chord

Unusual and custom chords can easily be written.
Then write Fret/Finger for each string. Put dots in between. Like this:

Fret/Finger.Fret/Finger.Fret/Finger.Fret/Finger.Fret/Finger.Fret/Finger[Name]
For example the chord below:  7/2.X/X.7/3.7/4.6/1.X/X [Bm7b5]

7/2.X/X.7/3.7/4.6/1.X/X[Bm7b5]

  • Frets: fretboard position number
  • Fingers: 1,2,3,4,T 
  • Open strings: 0/0. Muted strings: X/X
  • Name: chord name in square brackets [ ]
  • You must always include all six strings.

Tab Notation

Simply set the string with a $ sign , then the notes. Separated with spaces.

The strings: $E $A $D $G $B $e (low to high) or you may prefer:
$6 $5 $4 $3 $2 $1 (low to high)
The notes: anything you like on that string: a number (=fret position), slides ( / ) hammerons (h), pulloffs (p) or several numbers as a note sequence.

Examples:

  • $B 0 1 3 (a simple three note sequence on the B string)
  • $B 0 1 3 $e 0 1 3/5 (a sequence of notes starting on the B string, continuing on the high E string, finishing with a slide to A)
  • $2 0 1 3 $1 0 1 3/5 (same, but using string notes instead of numbers)

What about more than one note at the same time?To handle multiple notes played on different strings, join all the individual string notation together with periods (“.”)

Examples:

  • $3.6.$2.5h7 $1 5 $2 7 (start with two notes on G and B strings followed by a hammeron and two individual notes)
  • $4.7/9.$3.6/8.$2.5/7 9p7 $2.9.$3.9.$4.9 (three notes across D,G,B strings with a slide up two steps and a twist)

Tab for a whole or partial chord can be easier to enter as a full six-string block.A shorthand is possible if you want to enter notes across all 6 strings:

  • Below the 10th fret, just write the six string fret positions (from low string to high) e.g. 022100 is E chord at the nut.
  • Periods are required to separate each string e.g. 8.10.10.9.8.8 is C chord at the 8th fret (which can also be written as C:4 in CAGED notation)
  • substitute an X or x for mute strings e.g. X02220 is an A chord

Mixing Chord & Tab Notation

You can mix chord and tab notation without restriction in the one phrase.This will result in a tab line being drawn, with chord charts above where relevant.