Chordmaps.com Releases Music Theory For Songwriters Software

(Click for a close-up)

A new computer-based alternative music controller has just been released which enables the user to play basic 4-note chord progressions in any major key simply by moving a mouse around on a "map" and clicking. Intended for songwriters and aspiring songwriters who may not have developed the necessary guitar or piano skills, this program creates an environment where exploring chord progressions is as easy as moving and clicking a mouse.

"Chordmaps.com Yours To Play It!" is part of an ongoing music education project authored by Steve Mugglin. It began more than twenty years ago while teaching piano to young students. Wondering how to make the principles of songwriting and chord progression easier to understand, he began drawing maps with locations for the various chords. These maps eventually became the basis for the website "Music Theory for Songwriters" (Chordmaps.com.)

But there was one element missing — the maps were silent.

In February, 2008, Steve began looking for a programming language which was relatively easy to learn. Finding that Liberty Basic was intentionally designed to be a programming language for everyone, and that one of the demo programs showed how to play GM midi sounds on a Windows computer, Steve began the challenge of making the chordmaps playable.

The result is unique. The screen displays an array of blue boxes with arrows indicating suggestions for smooth-sounding progressions. Each blue box has multiple zones where various inversions of the selected chord can be played. Volume is determined by how high in the zone the mouse is clicked. The notes in the chord are displayed on a visual keyboard when the "Watch" option is selected. The name of the chord is also displayed in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

Individual notes in the chord can be played using the "arrow" keys. Up-arrow plays the bass note, and Left, Down and Right-arrow keys play the three notes in the chord. Bass notes for each chord can be played to the left of each blue box. Power chords (chords with a root and a fifth) have their own location in the middle of the map. Midi drum notes have also been assigned to the Qwerty keyboard with volume variations for the keyboard rows (Q is slightly louder than A which is slightly louder than Z).

Because the program accesses the GM midi soundset installed on the computer, 128 instruments are available for the chord and bass sounds. The three notes in the chord (which would normally be played by the right hand) can also be assigned a separate "layered" sound, enabling combinations like Piano and Strings or EPiano and Pad.

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Besides making the maps sing, there was a second challenge.

"I've been wondering," Steve explains, "how much music a person can play if the only instrument they have is their computer — with no extra controllers — just the computer itself. What can you do with it?" On the family computer in his home, he began to find out. "Our computer runs XP at a little over 2 GHz, and responds almost fast enough to play the maps like they were "live" instruments," he said. "But when I tested this program on computers belonging to my friends, there was enough latency to keep me from playing fast. Still, as an educational tool for exploring songwriting, it works well."

The program is marketed to reach a lot of people, especially kids, using an idea called "Share Wherever." It's a little like shareware, but the price per copy, which starts at $11.95 for a Single User, drops quickly if the person considering the purchase is also willing to buy it for family, friends, band members, students, etc. For large groups, the price eventually reaches fifty cents per person.

"I know this is unusual," Steve explains. "I wasn't sure how to market the idea. Then one night I woke up and the concept of "Share Wherever" began to play in my mind. I hope the program will reach collected groups of friends rather than just individuals —bands, whole classrooms, churches, youth groups, etc. — and that they will encourage each other by exploring, learning and writing together."

For those who have never played piano before, for little children whose hands are not yet big enough to play keyboards or guitars, for anyone in a band who sings but perhaps does not play a "songwriting instrument," for music educators and students, for those who may be physically challenged and may benefit from a simpler controller, for players who are away from their instruments but have a computer at hand, for anyone who would like to explore songwriting and hasn't had the freedom to because they didn't know "which chord comes next"... this tool is a bridge, over into the world of music, with a sign that says "Welcome. You can play too!"

Product Specifications:

• Designed for PC's running Windows (has been tested on XP and Vista)
• Plays basic chord progressions in all major keys Visual display of notes being played
• Chord name is displayed Individual chord notes can be played using arrow keys
• Midi drum notes assigned to Qwerty keyboard

For more information, visit their web site at www.chordmaps.com.