The PDA Initiative - Pocket Guitar Ref Elite

Pocket GuitarRef 2007 - Online Help

Introduction
Program Operational Views
Chord Plotter
Chord Progression
Chord Discoverer
Scales
Modes
Favorites
Guitar Settings
Sound Settings

Progressions

What is a Progression?
Progression Manager
Progression Editor

Pick Patterns

What is a Pick Pattern?
Pick Pattern Manager
Pick Pattern Editor

Introduction

Pocket GuitarRef 2007 provides a comprehensive reference for chords, scales and modes. It also provides the ability to add and organize your favorite chords, scales and modes. There's even a chord discovery view, in which you can tap on the fretboard for different notes and it will discover and display the chord name.

Includes the most common tunings for guitar. They are:

Name	String Notes
Standard E	EADGBE
Open E	EBEG#BE
E Minor	EBEGBE
Standard Eb	EbAbDbGbBbEb
Open A	EAEAC#E
Standard D	DGCFAD
Open D	DADF#AD
Standard Db	DbGbBEAbDb
Open G	DGDGBD
Standard C	CFBbEbGC
G6th	DGDGBE
Standard B	BEADF#B
G Wahine	DGDF#BD
Drop D	DADGBE
G Major	GBDGBD
Double Drop D	DADGBD
Open C	CGCGCE
D6th	DADF#BD
C6th	CACGCE
D6/9	DADF#BE
C6th Mauna Loa	CGCGAE
D Suspended	DADGAD
Cmaj7/9	CGDGBE
Drop Db	DbAbDbGbBbEb
Cmaj7 (Gabby)	CGEGBE
C6/9 (Crafty)	CGDAEG
Cyril C	CGEGCE

Program Operational Views

There are five views that you can be in while using Pocket GuitarRef 2007. They are as follows:

Chord Discovery

This is a free-form mode in which you can click on the fretboard to form your own chords. After each click, the program will try to determine what chord you have formed and displays it in the box at the bottom of the screen.

Chord Progression

This view allows you to have your progression play out on the fretboard so that you may follow along. You select the progression from the Progression droplist. You can also select the pattern to start on from the Pattern droplist.

Chord Plotter

This program view displays chords according to the selection in each of the note, type and variation fields. Standard Tuning (EADGBE) has the option to use dynamic chord generation (via the Tools menu) or static reference. There are 6 of the most common variations for each chord type stored in an internal reference table. When not in dynamic chord generation mode, the program will use this to reference and display chords. When using dynamic chord generation, the program uses an algorithm to find 50 variations of the chord and allows the user to see those. Only Standard Tuning chords have been put into the internal reference table. All other tunings use dynamic chord generation.

There are 36 chords in each key available. They are listed chromatically in the chord drop list. The chords available are:

Major
Major Suspended Fourth
Flat Fifth
Major Add Ninth
Fifth
Minor
Augmented
Diminished
Major Sixth
Sixth Add Ninth
Minor Sixth Add Ninth
Minor Sixth
Seventh
Seventh Suspended Fourth
Minor Seventh
Minor Seventh Flat Fifth
Seventh Augmented Fifth
Seventh Flat Fifth

Major Seventh
Major Seventh Flat Fifth
Minor Major Seventh
Seventh Flat Ninth
Seventh Augmented Ninth
Seventh Flat Ninth Augmented Fifth
Minor Ninth
Ninth
Ninth Augmented Fifth
Ninth Flat Fifth
Major Ninth
Ninth Augmented Eleventh
Minor Ninth Major Seventh
Eleventh
Minor Eleventh
Thirteenth
Thirteenth Flat Ninth
Thirteenth Flat Ninth Flat Fifth

Scales

This program view displays scales according to the selection in the note and type fields.

There are 64 scale types available. They are:

Algerian
Altered
Altered Dominant
Arabian
Augmented
Balinese
Bebop Dominant
Bebop Half-Diminshed
Bebop Minor
Blues
Blues v1
Blues v2
Blues v3
Byzantine
Chinese
Chromatic
Diminished
Diminished Minor
Dominant Bebop
Dominant Diminished
Dominant Pentatonic
Double Harmonic
Egyptian
Eight-tone Spanish
Enigmatic
Ethiopian
Gypsy
Harmonic Major
Harmonic Minor
Hawaiian
Hindu
Hirajoshi

Hungarian Gypsy
Hungarian Major
Hungarian Minor
Iwato
Japanese
Japanese In Sen
Javanese
Kumoi
Leading Whole Tone
Major
Major Arpeggio
Major Bebop
Major Diatonic
Major Pentatonic
Melodic Minor
Minor Arpeggio
Minor Diatonic
Minor Pentatonic
Mixo-Blues
Mohammedan
Mongolian
Natural Minor
Neapolitan Major
Neapolitan Minor
Oriental
Overtone
Pelog
Pelog2
Persian
Spanish
Spanish-flamenco
Whole Tone

Modes

This program view displays modes according to the selection in the note and type fields.

There are 19 mode types available. They are:

Aeolian
Dorian b2
Dorian
Ionian Augmented
Ionian
Locrian #2
Locrian
Lydian Augmented
Lydian b7
Lydian Dominant
Lydian Minor
Lydian
Major Locrian
Major Phrygian
Mixolydian b6
Mixolydian
Phrygian Dominant
Phrygian
Super Locrian

Pick Pattern Record

This program view allows you to create Pick Patterns by tapping on the desired string. This created Pick Pattern can then be saved for later use in Progression patterns, or as the main chord pick pattern used by the program.

BPM defines the tempo at which this pick pattern plays after clicking the play button.

Icon meanings:

	Creates a new pick pattern. This clears the currently displayed pick pattern.
	Open and load an existing pick pattern.
	Saves the current pick pattern.
	Clears the last character of the pick pattern (backspace).
	Adds a Rest character to the pick pattern.

Favorites
This feature allows you to save specific chords, scales or modes. These favorites are shown for their respective view. In other words, the favorites you have set for your chords while in Chord view will not appear when in Scale view. You are also allowed 10 favorites per tuning in each of the program views. After adding a favorite, it will show up under the Favorites menu. You can organize your favorites by selecting the 'Manager...' menu item. The tunings droplist will default to the current guitar tuning the program is set to. You can edit other tunings by selecting them from the list. The favorites relevant to that tuning will load into the tree view.
Adding a Favorite
Once you have found a chord, mode, or scale that you want to be able to recall quickly in the current tuning, click Favorites > Add...
	As you click the Favorites menu, you'll notice existing favorite items, or above the line will be empty, indicating that you haven't stored any favorites yet.

	Enter the name you want this favorite to be known as in the Favorites menu. You can enter a description here so that you can easier identify the favorite in the Favorites Manager.
Favorites Manager
	This screen allows you to edit and delete your existing Favorites. The description of the favorite (if any) is shown in the edit box at the bottom of the screen.

Guitar Settings

Smart Cycle

(Windows Mobile 5 version only)

Smart Cycle allows the use of the left soft button on Windows Mobile 5 devices to easily cycle through various views OR Play/Stop the current chord/scale/mode.

Guitar

Here, you are able to set the fundamentals of the guitar. You can select the tuning and whether you want the display to show as a left or right-handed player. When you select a tuning, a short description is shown.

Chords

Dynamic Generation	Enables the program use its internal chord generation algorithm to generate chords. This is the only option for tunings other than EADGBE. Unchecking this option makes the program use a chord lookup for common chords.
Max Span	The maximum distance you are able to go from one fret to another. Most reference books have this set to 4. This is only applicable when Dynamic Generation is checked.
Display Type As	How the chord type will display in its droplist. Choosing Symbol will use common symbols such as m, *maj, and sus. Choosing Full Name* uses the full name of the chord type, such as *Minor, Major* and *Major Suspended Fourth*.
Open String	Determines how open strings will display on the fretboard. There are options for showing an 'O' icon over the string at fret 0, coloring the string blue or both. Coloring the string makes it easier to see open strings when the 'O' icon is out of view.
Muted String	Determines how muted strings will display on the fretboard. There are options for showing an 'X' icon over the string at fret 0, coloring the string red or both. Coloring the string makes it easier to see muted strings when the 'X' icon is out of view.
Scroll screen to ensure notes are visible	Whether or not to automatically scroll the screen to show the chord when it's initially displayed.

Scales/Modes

Don't use open notes	Whether or not to show open notes when plotting scales/modes.
Color start note and its octaves	Whether or not to highlight the scale/mode start note and every occurrence of it on the fretboard. This is done by drawing a translucent blue bubble over the note.
Scroll screen to ensure notes are visible	Whether or not to automatically scroll the screen to show the chord when it's initially displayed. This is only applicable if not choosing to use the entire fretboard for scales.
Max Span	The maximum distance you are able to go from one fret to another. Most reference books have this set to 4.
Show all notes of scale within Max Span	Uses Max Span to determine how to plot the scale/mode.
Show all notes of scale using entire fretboard	Uses the entire fretboard to plot scales/modes. If checked, max span becomes irrelevant.

Sound Settings

Chords

BPM	This is the speed that, when in picking mode, that the program advances through each string in the defined pattern. It is stored in beats per minute. The slowest is 60 BPM and the fastest 320 BPM. Later versions will display the actual value.
Strum	Sets the play type to strum when playing chords. Which strings to include in the strum can be selected by clicking on a string number until it is filled in. Use the test button to hear how the strum will sound.
Pick	Sets the play type to a pick pattern when playing chords. Simply add any arrangement of string numbers 1-6 and the chord will play this pattern when you click play. Use the test button to hear how the pattern will sound.
Stop playing note before starting next	Whether to stop the currently playing note from ringing through the next note.
Show overlay for currently playing note	Whether or not to highlight the currently playing note while it plays on the fretboard.

Scales/Modes

BPM	This is the speed that, when in picking mode, that the program advances through each string in the defined pattern. It is stored in beats per minute. The slowest is 60 BPM and the fastest 320 BPM. Later versions will display the actual value.
Pattern	Determines how to advance through the scale: Ascending only Descending only Ascending, then descending Descending, then ascending
Stop playing note before starting next	Whether to stop the currently playing note from ringing through the next note.

Sound Packs

Packs found	Sound packs that were found while doing a exhaustive search or added manually. This list also shows which sound pack is currently loaded.
	Browse for, and load, a sound pack on your device.
	Unload the currently loaded sound pack.
	Load the selected sound pack.
	Refresh the sound pack list. This performs an exhaustive search on your device for all sound packs.

Effects

Effects are an exciting new feature in Pocket GuitarRef 2007. Now not only can you load sound packs, but you can enable effects to try to get a unique sound. Note: effects may take up a great deal of your CPU, draining your battery faster than normal Pocket GuitarRef 2007 operation. You can see how much CPU the effect is using just above the Test button.

Reverb is the only effect current supported, but Chorus and Flanger will be added in future versions.

Progressions

Default BPM

The default setting for the BPM when creating a new Progression.

Play # of ticks before starting:

Plays the progression with the specified count-in ticks.

Progressions

What is a Progression?

A chord progression is a sequence in which a group of chords are played in a song or a piece of music. Putting chords together into a progression is an extremely efficient way of practicing. Pocket GuitarRef 2007 allows you to group any number of chords together, loop them a given number of times and assign picking patterns to each chord. A chord in this context is known as a pattern. This pattern consists of the chord and whether to strum or pick the chord. If strum is chosen for the pattern, you can choose which strums to strum. If pick is chosen, you can select or create a Pick Pattern for the picking style.

Progression Manager

The Progression Manager holds all over your progressions for easy viewing and access to editing. Progressions are categorized by their tuning. From here, you can add, edit and delete progressions, as well as see their details and even sample what they sound like.

The Progression Manager also allows import and export of progressions so that you can share your creations with the world.

A selected progression's information appears below the list of progressions.

Icon meanings:

	Add progression
	Edit progression
	Delete progression
	Export progression
	Import progression
	Stop progression (if playing)
	Play progression (if stopped)

Adding a Progression

To add a progression, simply click the Add Progression button on the toolbar. The dialog to the left appears and you can enter all the specifics for this new progression.

You can choose to Copy from an existing progression, for example, if you'd like to modify a progression, but keep the original intact.

Each tuning setting has its own set of progressions. You select which tuning you'd like this progression to be associated with from the Tuning droplist.

Deleting a Progression

This action deletes the currently selected progression. Use this action with caution, as there is no undo feature.

Exporting a Progression

After clicking the Export Progression button, this dialog appears. Click the directory and enter the name you'd like for your progression. After clicking ok, you are given a confirmation of save and returned to the Progression Manager.

Importing a Progression

After clicking the Import Progression button, this dialog appears. Clicking on a directory shows all progressions in that directory. Click a progression listed in the bottom list and click ok to import it.

You can edit progression files with a text editor. The progression files are in an xml format. An example progression file can be found here.

Playing a Progression

Clicking the Play button on the toolbar plays the current progression from beginning to end.

Progression Editor

This editor shows all patterns in a progression. You may add, edit and rearrange patterns here.

Icon meanings:

	Add new pattern from favorites
	Edit pattern
	Delete pattern
	Move pattern down
	Move pattern up
	Stop pattern (if playing)
	Play pattern (if stopped)

Add From Favorites

After clicking the Add new pattern from favorites button, this dialog appears. It allows you to add a chord from your favorites to the current progression. You have all the same pattern-editing abilities as adding a chord from the main view.

Edit Pattern

After clicking the Edit progression button, this dialog appears. You are able to edit all parameters of the pattern from here. Clicking Cancel causes any edits to this pattern to be undone.

Delete Pattern

This action deletes the currently selected pattern. By selecting the Cancel button in the Progression Editor, you can essentially undo any action you have done, including any pattern deletions.

Moving Patterns

Select a pattern to move and click the move up or move down to move it.

Playing Patterns

Clicking the play button in the Progression Editor causes the progression to begin playing at the currently selected pattern.

Pick Patterns

What is a Pick Pattern?

A pick pattern is a series of string picks or rests that are used to determine how a chord is played in Chord Plotter, Chord Discovery and in a pattern of a progression. A valid pattern consists of the numbers 1-6 and/or a 'R' character, indicating a rest. A rest character plays nothing for that part of the pick pattern.

Pick Pattern Manager

Allows you to create, edit, delete, and categorize Pick Patterns by tuning type.

These Pick Patterns show up when browsing for Pick Patterns in various dialogs.

Icon meanings:

	Add a new pick pattern to the selected folder
	Add a new folder to the selected folder
	Edit selected pick pattern
	Delete selected pick pattern
	Copy the selected pick pattern

Pick Pattern Editor

This screen allows you to edit a Pick Pattern. Only valid Pick Patterns are allowed and a warning will be displayed if you try to save an invalid one. New Pick Pattern folders can be created here as well via the New Folder... button.